LOYALIST COLLEGE
Loyalist College Receives $480k Grant to Launch Rural Learning Initiative

Students in rural Eastern Ontario will have greater access to meaningful work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities thanks to more than $480,000 in funding awarded to Loyalist College through Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada's Innovation Hub (iHub). The grant will support the launch of Loyalist's Rural Learning Initiative, a pilot program to remove transportation and cost barriers for up to 365 students completing field placements, clinical practicums and other WIL activities. 

Loyalist College Senior Vice-President Academic and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Amanda Baskwill explains that WIL gives students the chance to apply their classroom learning in professional settings. "Loyalist collaborates with employers in health care, community services, skilled trades, business and more to create opportunities for students to gain real workplace experience, build industry connections and take on responsibilities that strengthen their adaptability and problem-solving skills," she says. 

For rural learners, however, transportation logistics and costs can make participating in valuable WIL experiences challenging. "Many of our students live in communities without public transportation," Dr. Baskwill observes. "Without a personal vehicle or extensive planning, those students face limited access to WIL opportunities." 

The same barriers also create obstacles for urban-based learners completing placements in rural communities, preventing regional employers from connecting with the student talent they need to support their operations and future workforce. Loyalist developed the Rural Learning Initiative to help bridge these access gaps. Supported by funding from the Government of Canada's Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (I-WIL), the program will provide a variety of supports, including bursaries, ride-sharing and busing options, to make WIL sites across Northumberland, Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox and Addington and Frontenac counties more accessible for Loyalist College students. Eligible students can self-identify and apply for support under the program, with applications evaluated based on predefined criteria to ensure equitable access.  

President Mark Kirkpatrick notes that the Rural Learning Initiative reflects Loyalist's broader role in driving growth and opportunity in rural Eastern Ontario. 

"The Rural Learning Initiative is an ambitious pilot project that will help us better understand the needs of rural learners and employers," he says. "By reducing barriers to WIL activities, we can strengthen opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience, address the needs of local industry and contribute to the vitality of our region. We thank CEWIL and the Government of Canada for helping us improve mobility, equity and access for our students and communities." 

"Aspiring professionals should be empowered to begin their careers with the skills and confidence they need to succeed," said the Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth). "The Rural Learning Initiative led by Loyalist College, funded in part by the Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative, will help young people achieve their goals and get the hands-on experience they need to thrive." 

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative. This project is funded in part by CEWIL Canada's iHUB. 

Learn more about Experiential Learning at Loyalist College.