Funded by the Government of Canada through the Student Work Placement Program, Propel offers post-secondary students the opportunity to gain the skills sought by employers through hands-on, paid work-integrated learning opportunities in tourism and hospitality.
Propel creates a direct link between students looking to enhance their workplace skills and employers who can provide valuable firsthand experience.
Students can further their education in real-world settings, putting their knowledge into practice, developing key employability skills, networking with those working in their field of study, and exploring the multitude of career pathways available in tourism and hospitality.
Placements are posted by employers on the Propel online portal, hosted by Outcome Campus Connect. Students can visit the Propel portal to look for work-integrated learning opportunities; if your school is not signed up for Magnet’s Outcome Campus Connect platform, please email propel@tourismhr.ca for more details on how to take part in Propel.
Who Is Eligible?
To participate in the Propel Student Work Placement Program, a student must be:
- registered at a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution in a program that includes a work placement;
- a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and
- legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
The post-secondary program can be full time or part time.
Students enrolled in a post-graduate program are eligible.
International students do NOT qualify for the Student Work Placement Program.
Do Students Need to Be in a Tourism or Hospitality Program?
No, as long as students meet the eligibility criteria, they can be in any program. Tourism and hospitality encompass a wide range of businesses that offer the ability to apply studies in:
Human resources
Statistics
Business administration
Environment, sustainability
Marketing, communications, media
Arts, drama, music
Where Are the Placements?
Opportunities are available right across Canada, from large urban centres to remote visitor destinations.
A wide range of placements are offered by employers representing all facets of the visitor economy: accommodations, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services. This includes positions related to events, concerts, meetings and conventions, museums, galleries, cultural and heritage sites, destination marketing, research, sustainability, and more.
What Skills Can Students Gain?
In addition to occupation-specific competencies, work-integrated learning in tourism and hospitality offers the chance to develop key employability skills, such as:
- Problem solving
- Organization
- Adaptability
- Time management
- Teamwork
- Communications
- Decision making
- Customer service
Will Students Be Paid for a Placement?
Yes, all Propel Student Work Placement Program participants are paid for their placements.
What Opportunities Are There After Graduation?
While tourism has been hit hard by the pandemic, increasing vaccine rates, easing restrictions, and pent-up traveller demand are leading to an explosion of work opportunities in the sector. Tourism employers across the country will be looking to fill 100,000s of vacancies, meaning graduates will have ample opportunities to build a bright career in a global industry.
How Can I Learn More?
Tourism HR Canada is hosting a series of virtual info sessions on the Propel Student Work Placement Program, including an overview of the eligibility criteria and application process. A Q&A session with attendees follows the presentation.
You can also watch this video for more details, or scroll down to access a recorded info session.
If you would like additional information about Propel, the Student Work Placement Program, or work-integrated learning, please email propel@tourismhr.ca.
