INTERNSHIPS

The OPIRG McMaster Experiential Learning Program is currently on pause due to low capacity

The OPIRG McMaster Experiential Learning program gives McMaster Undergraduate students the opportunity to complete a short-term project for a community-based organization and receive a stipend for their work. 

OPIRG partners with community-based organizations that align with its mission to create a short-term student project. A job posting is then released to McMaster undergraduate students. Successful applicants are connected to the partner organization and receive mentorship over a set timeline (e.g., 60 hours over 6-8 weeks) to complete their project. 

Once the project is complete, the student submits their deliverables to the partner organization and receives their stipend from OPIRG (ranging from $1000 to $5,000). 

The Experiential Learning Program gives students an opportunity to gain real-world skills while being compensated for their work. Meanwhile, partner organizations gain the opportunity to pursue a project with highly motivated and capable students, at no cost of their own. Organizations also have the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with OPIRG and set up recurring Experiential Learning Placement opportunities.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM, A STUDENT MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

Be a part-time or full-time McMaster undergraduate student; 

  • Agree to uphold the values of OPIRG McMaster during your time in the Experiential Learning Program

  • Be available for the set hours and weeks specified in the job description

  • Not be working in a paid position for the organization that you are seeking to complete an experiential learning placement for

  • Agree to attend a meeting after one quarter of the contract hours, complete presentations to the board, and a final reflection of your experience in the OPIRG Experiential Learning Program (to be shared on the OPIRG website and future OPIRG presentations)

The Experiential Learning Placement will give students the opportunity to get involved in their community, gain real world experience, and be compensated fairly for their work. 

If you are interested in participating in the program, please contact OPIRG at chair@opirgmcmaster.ca to inquire about open opportunities! 

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

  • Be a community-based organization

  • Conduct work that aligns with OPIRG McMaster’s mission (social and environmental justice and activism)

  • Have the capacity to host a student (i.e., dedicate a staff member as liaison to supervise and mentor the student)

Examples of eligible organizations include: non-profit organizations; social enterprises; neighbourhood associations; offices of councillors and school board trustees, etc.

Examples of eligible projects for an Experiential Learning Placement include: 

  • Program evaluation; 

  • Program development; 

  • Social media campaign; 

  • Research report, paper, or project; 

  • Many more! 

THE PROCESS

How do we go from an interested partner organization to a successful completed student project?

  • OPIRG McMaster has an initial meeting with a partner organization. During this meeting, OPIRG confirms that the organization is eligible for the program, while the organization shares their needs and how students can address those needs.

  • The partner organization fills out the OPIRG McMaster Experiential Learning Program Project Agreement. 

    The project agreement must have a set timeline (total number of hours, start-date and end-date), deliverables, and a plan for student supervision and mentorship. 

    Based on the project agreement, OPIRG agrees on an amount for the honorarium. 

    This amount will be based on paying the student a living hourly wage. 

  • A job posting is released to McMaster undergraduate students. 

    The job posting will be set up by the partner organization (with OPIRG providing assistance as necessary). 

    Student candidates are interviewed, and successful candidates are selected for the program.

    Selected candidates must be approved by OPIRG to ensure they meet all the eligible criteria. 

    Successful candidates are connected to the partner organization and begin work on their project. 

    Over the course of the following weeks, the student completes their project under the regular supervision of the partner organization. 

    The student is responsible for organizing with OPIRG to fulfill the interim conditions of the Project Agreement and receive their honorariums.

  • Once the project timeline nears its end, the student provides deliverables to the partner organization. Once the partner organization confirms that the deliverables meet project expectations, and OPIRG confirms that the student has fulfilled the conditions of the Project Agreement, OPIRG provides the student with the remainder of the honorarium. 

    If all parties agree, the contract may be renewed.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

If you are interested in being a partner organization, or completing an Experiential Learning Placement as a student, please contact OPIRG McMaster at chair@opirgmcmaster.ca for more information.