Mitacs Business Strategy Internship program

Overview

UBC Sauder, in partnership with Mitacs have launched a new summer program called the “Mitacs Business Strategy Internship" program. UBC Sauder is the pilot school in a network of Canadian business schools. The program will award $10,000 of funding to each interested and eligible undergraduate and graduate student to undertake a 4-month internship (480 hours) with a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or not-for-profit organization. Internships will be structured to undertake a strategic analysis of an SME to help them restore or modify their business operations in a new business environment disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Primary goals of the program

Real world experience
Provide students with the opportunity to apply business concepts to real-world decision-making and build students’ skills in problem solving, innovation, and navigating change.

Support the business community
Provide support to SMEs and not-for-profits who need additional assistance in modifying their business operations to adapt to the new economic reality

Collaboration & career connections
Strengthen collaborations between companies and universities, and expand students’ network with the business community.

Eligibility

Students must:

Be an undergraduate or graduate student at UBC Sauder School of Business, returning to studies in September 2020 and currently located in Canada
Not be a current, active participant in another Mitacs program

Employer must be:

A Small to Mid-Sized Company with less than 500 full-time employees or a not-for-profit organization.
Willing to contribute $2,500 towards each internship grant

How to apply

Employers: Before you start

Please read the before you start guide to learn what information you to have prepared before you start your application

View guide

Employer On-site Request statement

Please read the UBC Sauder statement on employer requests for onsite work or worksite visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read statement

Employer Application form

Apply directly through this link

Apply now

Employer FAQ

Please check here for frequently asked questions

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Program details

The Mitacs Awards will provide a grant of $10,000 per student with the full amount of the award can go towards student stipends. UBC Sauder and the employer will each contribute $2,500 (with employers being responsible for the additional applicable taxes) and Mitacs will contribute the remaining $5,000.

Internships will be designed to address one or more business strategy components (i.e., marketing strategy, operations strategy, finance strategy, etc.) dependent on the need of the SME

Each internship will require supervision from a supervisor at the partner organization and an academic supervisor or a point person appointed by the institution to oversee the work and the student.

Students are expected to meet weekly with their supervisors to report on the progress of their internship. Virtual meetings are acceptable.

Both students and supervisors will be required to complete an exit survey at the end of the program reporting on skills developed and providing feedback on the program experience.

Scope of the internship will be reviewed by the University prior to submission to Mitacs

Internships submitted to Mitacs will then be evaluated internally to confirm eligibility with the program

Students must complete a final report summarizing the work that was completed to their academic supervisor during the last week of the award term.

Mitacs is a national not-for-profit organization that designs and delivers research and training programs in Canada. For 20 years, Mitacs has worked with over 65 universities and academic institutions, thousands of companies, and federal and provincial governments to build partnerships that support talent development and deployment.

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