Cooperative Education & Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada has launched an Innovation Hub, funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (I-WIL). The CEWIL iHUB provides grant-based funding to enable and promote curricular work-integrated learning focusing primarily on four types of WIL: applied research/industry projects, entrepreneurial WIL, field placements, and service-learning WIL. The iHUB supports the advancement of, and innovation in, these forms of WIL, extends access to WIL, and ensures WIL projects are delivered with appropriate quality and learning standards for students.

Proposals need to have a minimum cost per student per opportunity of $200 and a maximum cost per student per opportunity of $2000 CAD. As the iHub is designed to support innovation in work-integrated learning, particularly innovation that leverages technology and expanding access to WIL, all project proposals must address one or more of the following key outcomes:

• Expanding access to WIL opportunities, particularly for under-represented students
• Removing barriers for students to participate in work-integrated learning
• Leveraging technology to enhance programming or extend access, including the use of technology to support virtual or remote WIL experiences in response to COVID-19
• Innovating work-integrated learning through new partnerships and new models for curricular WIL

As one of the core goals of the program is expanding access to WIL to under-represented populations, the iHub project has a specific focus on supporting Indigenous students, racialized Canadians, and persons with disabilities. Other under-represented groups for the purposes of the iHub project include women in STEM, newcomers, and rural and remote students. All projects must involve a Canadian community, post-secondary institution, government, or industry partner. Partners are required to contribute a minimum of 20% of the total project cost in cash or in-kind (e.g., supervision, mentoring, equipment, hosting events, etc.). 

For the purposes of iHub funding, eligible students include:

• registered students in PSE institutions, with no age limit;
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and,
• Are legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with the relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

For the 2023 Call for Proposals, CEWIL has expanded the funding options for iHUB projects. There are now three distinct streams of funding that may be eligible for funding. 

1. Innovative stream: funding for new WIL projects that have not previously received iHUB funding. 
2. Enhanced: funding for projects that have already been funded through iHUB where minor or major revisions have been made. 
3. Bursary: 100% of funding must go to students from equity deserving groups. There are no project costs associated with this stream, although project administrative fees are still allowed at up to 10% of the budget. Bursary style projects do not require a direct curriculum focus, rather, the funding can act as a bursary to support equity-deserving students in their WIL activities.

*NOTE: International/Visa students are not eligible to receive iHub funding. 

For updates related to CEWIL funding opportunities, and to view the application process and guide, please visit the CEWIL iHUB website.