Northeastern Toronto Launches Unique Experiential Program
One student has developed a centralized and scalable contact database for a nonprofit. Another has created a project management system for an organization’s grants and funding initiatives. Meanwhile, a third student is revamping a company’s website. They are among 31 students—and counting—who are benefiting from Northeastern University in Toronto’s new innovative Co-Curricular Experiential Program (CEP).
The initiative aims to enhance and expand experiential learning opportunities while supporting the needs of community and industry partners.
“The Co-Curricular Experiential Program is a first-of-its-kind at Northeastern,” says Deniz Toker, the campus’s Associate Director of Community and Academic Partnerships. “It’s an opportunity beyond co-op placements or Experiential Network (XN) projects, which are available in courses for students to gain additional practical experience, build their portfolios, and enhance employability.
“Experiential learning is a hallmark of a Northeastern education, and we are committed to ensuring that every student applies their skills in the real world before graduating.”
How CEP Works
Launched this spring, the standout feature of CEP is its flexibility. Students can take part in CEP opportunities, which are typically short-term projects, throughout the year, as they are not tied to specific courses or the academic calendar.
The process begins with community partners submitting a project proposal that outlines clear timelines and outcomes. Northeastern University in Toronto’s Career Development and Experiential Learning team assists in promoting the projects to students, who then apply as they would for a job.
Applications undergo an internal review process before shortlisted candidates are matched with community partners for informal interviews, which confirm their suitability for the project. Those not selected, meanwhile, receive feedback to ensure a well-rounded experience that helps strengthen their job application and interview skills.
Opeyemi Bello is a Project Management student with a concentration in data analytics at Northeastern University in Toronto. In his co-op role as Community and Academic Engagement Specialist, he helped bring the initiative to life. Bello says CEP is a groundbreaking offering.
“As students, we feel a lot of pressure to find a co-op, and competition is tough,” says Bello, whose work on CEP includes project and product management, as well as developing the platform, screening students, and sourcing projects. “CEP, which is open to all students but prioritizes co-op-seeking students, is an amazing alternative.”
Once students begin working on their project, faculty members provide feedback throughout the process. At the end of the experience, students submit a reflection piece and receive an advanced-level Co-Curricular Community Service-Learning badge.
“Students appreciate that they get to add a badge to their resume once they finish their project, and for community partners, it’s an accountability check,” says Bello. “I’ve had students email me to ask if they are on track to get their badge. Anyone can claim, ‘I volunteer,’ but you can’t manufacture a badge, so it’s a beneficial resume addition.”
The Benefits of CEP
So far, through CEP, students have worked on nearly 30 unique projects with 17 community partners.
As they apply their education in practical environments to tackle real-world challenges, students acquire additional professional skills, foster valuable network connections, and enhance their resumes. They also develop in-demand soft skills, including communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership.
Community partners, Bello says, also reap benefits from this collaboration.
“There are many community organizations that have initiatives and projects they want to implement or challenges they face, but don’t have the manpower to start them,” he says. “So, CEP supplies a demand. One community organization was so impressed with the students’ work that they gave them gift cards at the end. Overall, community partners have responded positively.”
Among those community partners is Metrax Indigenous, a non-profit focused on empowering Indigenous communities through homebuilding, education, training, and sustainable development. Metrax Indigenous presented CEP with five projects that encompass aspects such as user experience and design, website development, and project management. Eight students were involved.
Erik Plesset, the Executive Director of Metrax Indigenous, says that CEP’s flexible structure, the expertise of graduate-level students, and the support from Northeastern University in Toronto throughout the process are notable features of the program.
“I found every one of the students to be professional, passionate, and very interested in applying the skills that they have,” he says. “They’ve all taken the initiative to use their creativity and knowledge to lead the project execution.
“Also, everyone at Northeastern has been professional, supportive, and organized. They all mobilized around the mission, so I have nothing but great things to say about them.”
The Future of CEP
To further develop CEP, Bello and the Community and Academic Partnerships team are expanding their efforts. They are consistently meeting with new community partners to create additional project opportunities, ensuring representation across all academic disciplines at Northeastern University in Toronto.
Additionally, the team is focused on creating a user-friendly interface to improve the student experience and plans to incorporate artificial intelligence solutions into the initial application screening process.
“The program is already mind-blowing, and students have been so appreciative of their experiences,” says Bello. “To make it even better, we want to create a one-stop shop for students, where they’ll not only see projects outlined but also testimonials and resources. It’s really important for us to create a holistic experience from start to finish.”
Once the program model is refined, the CEP team hopes to see it introduced at other Northeastern University locations throughout the school’s global campus network.
By: Izabela Shubair