How much funding can be received?

Get a wage subsidy to cover up to 70% of the costs of a work term placement with a maximum of $7,000 that provides post-secondary students with a position that is digital/technology immersive and that uses technology either entirely or in some capacity.

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This grant is available to companies located across Canada, as it supports Canadian businesses within the digital economy. The program aims to enhance work integrated learning experiences nationwide.

All provinces and territories within Canada.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$7,000

Create an online platform to connect local farmers directly with consumers

$7,000

Create a digital archive for a local history museum's collection

$7,000

Develop a mobile app to monitor mental health utilizing advanced analytics

$7,000

Develop a sustainable energy management system for residential buildings

$7,000

Implement an AI-based customer service chatbot for an e-commerce platform

$7,000

Develop an inventory management system for small retail businesses

grant_single_labels|admissibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the employer's qualifications and intended operations.

The employer must offer student work placements within the Digital Economy in Canada.
The employer must complete the Eligibility Criteria prescreen for each intended application.
The employer must place applications on a waitlist as part of the Eligibility Criteria Prescreen.
The "Net new" employment requirement is in effect, meaning the position must be considered additional to existing headcount.
Post-secondary institutions are not eligible as employers.
Applications must be submitted in the application portal prior to the student's start date.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

The ICTC WIL Digital Program is designed to support Canadian businesses that provide student work placements within the Digital Economy. Employers eligible to apply for the program include those who can offer meaningful work integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students. However, post-secondary institutions themselves are not eligible to apply as employers under this program.

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The WIL Digital program has certain restrictions on which companies are eligible to apply for wage subsidies. This aims to focus the program's impact within the desired sectors of the digital economy.

Post-secondary institutions are not eligible as employers.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

The ICTC's WIL Digital grant focuses on supporting Canadian businesses by subsidizing wages for hiring post-secondary students in work-integrated learning placements. The goal is to provide meaningful opportunities that enhance both foundational skills and business or entrepreneurial abilities for students within the digital economy.

Facilitating work-integrated learning placements within Canadian businesses for post-secondary students.
Offering opportunities for students to develop foundational skills relevant to the digital economy.
Creating pathways for students to gain entrepreneurship and business skills through practical experience.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

The WIL Digital program primarily focuses on providing wage subsidies for hiring post-secondary students.

Subsidy for student wages up to 50% or $5,000.
Subsidy for student wages up to 70% or $7,000 for underrepresented students.

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There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant.

Applicants must provide a detailed description of the proposed work integrated learning opportunity.
The proposed opportunity should align with the goals of the Work Integrated Learning Program.
Employers must demonstrate how the placement will contribute to the student's development of foundational and business skills.
Priority may be given to opportunities that support underrepresented students in the workforce.

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Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:

Step 1: Eligibility Criteria Prescreen
- Visit the ICTC's WIL Digital program page.
- Complete the Eligibility Criteria prescreen for your intended application to determine if you qualify.
- Waitlist your application for Summer or Fall 2024 if necessary.
- Receive an email notification once your application is released from the waitlist, inviting you to proceed further.
Step 2: Register or Log In
- Access the application portal by clicking the APPLY button on the ICTC WIL Digital page.
- Log in to your Survey Monkey account if you have one or REGISTER for a new account if necessary.
Step 3: Application Submission
- Once logged in, complete the application form with all the required information.
- Ensure all details are correct and comprehensive before submission.
Step 4: Confirmation
- Await a confirmation email from the ICTC acknowledging your application submission.
- Keep the confirmation email for your records.
Step 5: Further Assistance and Information
- If you have questions during the application process, contact the WIL Digital Team via email at wil_digital@ictc-ctic.ca or by phone at 613-237-8551 (Application Assistance: Extension 159; General Questions & Partnerships: Extension 842).

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Here are additional relevant details for the ICTC's WIL Digital program:

Employers have the option to waitlist their applications for Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 until they meet all criteria and are ready to proceed.
Notifications will be sent to employers when their waitlisted applications are ready for completion.
ICTC no longer applies COVID-19 flexibility measures as of April 1, 2022.

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ICTC — Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital

Apply to this program

Boost Your Business Growth with ICTC's WIL Digital Grant

The WIL Digital grant provides financial support to Canadian employers hiring post-secondary students, enhancing business growth and innovation in the digital economy. This funding is part of ICTC's Work Integrated Learning Program, which is underpinned by Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) grants from the Government of Canada.

Understanding the Impact and Benefits of ICTC's WIL Digital Program

The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) has designed the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program to support employers in the burgeoning digital economy by subsidizing the wages of post-secondary students. This initiative aligns with the organization's goal to foster meaningful employment opportunities that enhance students' skills while directly benefiting businesses through the infusion of fresh talent and innovation.

Supporting the digital economy's growth, the WIL Digital grant covers 50% of a student's salary, with a cap of $5,000, and increases this support to 70%, up to $7,000, for students from underrepresented groups. This tiered approach ensures that there is a concerted effort to engage a diverse range of students in the digital workforce, recognizing the additional barriers that some may face in accessing such opportunities. This financial support not only aids employers in offsetting the cost of hiring new talent but also encourages the integration of diverse perspectives in business operations.

Employers interested in applying for the program must navigate an application process that begins with completing an Eligibility Criteria prescreen. This step ensures that organizations meet the necessary conditions prior to formulating a complete application. Werful digital growth and innovation strategies benefit immensely from the support provided by WIL Digital placements, which are strategically designed to integrate into a company’s operations without disrupting existing workflows but rather enhancing them with vigilant and modern insights from the academic community.

The program mandates that all application processes must be completed before the prospective student joins the company, thereby ensuring that the funding is allocated as efficiently as possible. This is crucial for maintaining accountability and integrity within the grant-awarding framework, ensuring that only qualifying and timely applicants receive the benefit. Moreover, given the anticipated influx of applications, ICTC has implemented a waitlist system as part of its prescreening process. Employers are notified once they move from the waitlist stage, streamlining the application completion and approval processes.

ICTC also provides extensive support to applicants, including connecting them with regional coordinators and the WIL Digital team for tailored guidance. This includes answering any eligibility or procedural questions, ensuring that businesses can fully understand and take advantage of the opportunities at hand. The coherence in the support system not only helps in procedural navigation but also in aligning business needs with available talent, enhancing the overall efficacy of both the employer and the student experience.

Ultimately, the WIL Digital program is more than a funding mechanism; it is a strategic investment in Canada's digital future. By supporting young professionals in bridging the gap between academia and industry, the program lays the groundwork for a robust digital economy. It revamps traditional work dynamics by championing digital innovation and fostering environments where trained students can apply skills acquired during their education, while simultaneously fulfilling the strategic needs of their employers.

By participating in this grant, businesses not only gain immediate financial relief but also contribute to the long-term development of a dynamic, inclusive, and technologically adept workforce. This aligns with national economic goals and underscores the essential collaborative efforts required to maintain the global competitiveness of the Canadian digital economy. With its clear emphasis on diverse and inclusive hiring, the program also promotes socio-economic equity, further enhancing its societal impact.