YORKTON – This past year the Parkland College introduced a new opportunity for both students and local businesses.
Through the college’s Applied Research department, a proposal was submitted and approved by Mitacs, a national, not-for-profit research and training organization. To be eligible for funding, the project for the student internship needed to be innovative and strategic for the business or non-profit.
The college manages the intern selection process with the business and matches students with an appropriate business and project. A Parkland College job coach provides mentorship and employability skills training to the students throughout their internship. Typically, the interns work for four months with the option to apply for an additional four months. The business pays $7,500 for a four-month term and the student receives between $12,000 and $14,500 at $18.96 per hour.
Gwen Machnee, the project lead at Parkland College, says the process is designed to be simple for businesses. “This program has made a significant difference for several businesses in the region and we look forward to being able to help more businesses and organizations this year. The program has provided an amazing opportunity for our student interns to apply their classroom learning directly in a business,” said Machnee.
Last year, Parkland worked with three local businesses and one not-for-profit business to manage five students in Business Strategy Internships. The businesses involved were Deneschuk Homes, Royal Auto Group, Cornerstone Credit Union, and Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society.
Randi Jones was one of the Parkland College students who applied for the internship and was matched with Royal Auto Group. Her internship started in May of 2022 and was extended until January of 2023. “My marketing internship at Royal Auto Group was the perfect combination of educational and enjoyable each and every day. I will always be grateful for the continuous guidance
that Parkland College and Royal Auto Group provided,” said Jones.
Jones explained that the opportunity allowed her to grow tremendously on a professional and personal level. “I am proud to say that I am now a permanent member of the Royal Auto Group team, and I have Parkland College, Royal Auto Group, and Mitacs to thank for that”.
At the end of Jones’ internship she was offered full time employment as a Marketing Assistant.
Royal Auto Group is also grateful for the internship opportunity. Corporate General Manager, Natalie Ortynsky, said, “Randi’s eight-month long marketing internship was a mutually beneficial way for her to gain experience while seeing whether this role and industry was the right fit for her. She was eager to learn and we found it exceedingly valuable having her on-site.”
New student internship opportunities will begin again this spring. Interested local businesses are encouraged to reach out to Parkland College to find out if their project or initiative would be eligible for the Mitacs internship funding.
