Sheridan and ScotiaRISE partner to expand work opportunities for international students

Sheridan is welcoming a $250,000 gift from Scotiabank that will create on-campus work opportunities for international students. The funding will be targeted to Sheridan’s Work Study program, increasing opportunities for international students to gain the Canadian work experience that is essential to help them succeed in Canada.

Every year, approximately 1,500 students participate in Work Study at Sheridan, taking up positions ranging from research to administrative roles. These paid positions offer transferrable skills and competencies that help students launch their careers. Due to stipulations attached to the funding model, historically, these positions have been limited to domestic students.

Thanks to the ScotiaRISE program – Scotiabank’s 10-year, $500-million initiative that aims to promote economic resilience among disadvantaged groups – Sheridan will now be able to expand Work Study opportunities with up to 125 Work Study placements for international students over the next two years, beginning this spring. The program builds on the success of a pilot project first launched in Fall 2020, when Sheridan set aside its own funds to create a small number of Work Study positions for international students. Since then, the program has continued to grow. 

Sheridan President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Janet Morrison says this gift will play an important part in expanding Sheridan’s targeted, robust supports, such as the Arrive Well series, to help international students thrive in our communities.

“I’m grateful to Scotiabank for their foresight and generosity,” she says. “International students bring tremendous energy and a diversity of perspectives to our campuses, which enriches the learning environment for everyone. These new work opportunities will strengthen our suite of holistic and innovative supports by providing safe, meaningful, paying jobs that give international students more financial security and the critical Canadian work experience that future employers seek. On-campus work has also been shown to offer students a chance to build community and a sense of belonging, which is critical to encourage them to remain in Canada after graduation.” 

“We’re proud to support the Work Study program at Sheridan, which will help international students gain valuable Canadian work experience while studying here in Canada,” adds Rod Morton, District Vice President at Scotiabank. “This partnership is just one of the ways Scotiabank is helping students begin their career journeys.” 

Social Service Worker – Gerontology student Rajni Sharma says her Work Study position has given her the chance to directly apply what she learns in the classroom. She is currently taking part in Work Study as a research assistant, examining the educational content related to dementia that is available for members of the South Asian community. 

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“Work Study has allowed me to show my passion and dedication toward my job,” she says. “A Work Study position is not only a source of income for students to be able to pay for their expenses, but it also gives them experience in their own field by teaching professional skills and other competencies.”