APEGA's Work Readiness Program

This brand-new program for students and members-in-training (M.I.T.s) will help you develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes to prepare you for the workplace and to become a professional.  

Illustration of two gears - one with a plant growing inside of it and the other with shaking hands inside of it

What is the Work Readiness Program and who it is for? 

This brand-new program for students and members-in-training (M.I.T.s) will help you develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes to prepare you for the workplace and to become a professional.  

Tailor the program to expand your expertise in the following areas:  

  • Technical competence*
  • Communication   
  • Project and financial management  
  • Team effectiveness  
  • Professional accountability 
  • Social, economic, environmental, and governance 
  • Inclusive leadership 
  • Digital literacy 

*Currently tailored for engineering students and engineers-in-training. The geoscience aspect of the program is in development. Geoscience students can still participate in the program, as many aspects of the program are interdisciplinary. 

Sign Up to be Notified

Sign up today to be the first to know when the program launches in January 2024. 

The Work Readiness Program Format

Designed to fit your schedule, this program is self-directed and can be completed at your own pace.  You select learnings that interest you and align with the eight areas of competency (listed above). For each competency, you will: 

  • acquire knowledge through resources like podcasts, YouTube videos, and books. Don’t forget to factor in what you’re already learning in your university courses!
  • apply that knowledge by putting everything you learned into practice at work, through an extracurricular activity, or at an APEGA University Outreach event.
  • consolidate your learning through conversations with your peers, a coach, an adviser, or a mentor.  

  • Enhance your education, learn new skills, develop your knowledge, and redefine attitudes that will serve you in your academic career and help you to transition to your professional career. 

    Take your skills above and beyond what you learn in university and use the Work Readiness Program to help you prepare for the workforce, give yourself an edge over the competition, and be able to market yourself as a more well-rounded candidate. 

  • There are four levels, and each level has a minimum number of competencies that must be completed before you can graduate to the next level. Earn a completion certificate for each level.

    You can start at the level you feel is most appropriate based on your experience. Here is a guideline based on your year of study:

    • Foundational: undergraduate year 1 to year 2
    • Novice: undergraduate year 2 to year 3
    • Intermediate: undergraduate year 4+, graduate year 1, first-year M.I.T.s
    • Advanced: graduate level any year, M.I.T.s

     

    APEGA University Outreach will help answer questions regarding potential learning sources, but ultimately how you wish to fulfil the requirements is up to you.

  • The Work Readiness Program is designed to be completed at your own pace. Each level requires a different number of learning modules to be completed, but we estimate that you should only be spending 60–90 hours per level, an average of two hours per week (two episodes of your favourite TV show). There is no time limit for completing the program.

  • Please sign up here to be notified when registration opens for the program start in January 2024.

  • Once you apply to be in the program, you will be provided with a digital passport to track your progress through each level. After completing the knowledge and skills components of a competency for the level you are working on, you will be asked to submit a form outlining what you have learned and how you have applied it or will apply it in your academic or professional career.

  • Many aspects of the program are interdisciplinary and can be applied to either program stream. If you would like to begin the program now, we suggest leaving technical competencies for last.

  • Yes, you need to be enrolled in an engineering or geoscience program at university or be an M.I.T. to participate. You will need to provide proof of enrolment or your APEGA ID number to sign up.

Questions? Contact [email protected].