The First Nations University of Canada has collaborated with the financial services co-operative Co-operators to open the Career Centre and Work-Integrated Learning Initiative, where Indigenous students will be able to connect with professional development resources. The initiative will support current students and graduates by providing values-based learning opportunities, tools, and programming to prepare them for meaningful job opportunities. It will be designed, used, and managed by Indigenous students and staff and supported by a $390K pledge from Co-operators over a three-year period. Co-operators will also hire two FNU graduates each year until 2027, facilitate internship opportunities, develop financial literacy resources, and co-create mentorship programs. “[The Career Centre and Work-Integrated Learning Initiative] will help in creating a bridge between tradition and innovation, and it will ensure that our students are equipped with the academic skills and holistic tools to thrive in a contemporary, fast-paced, and everchanging work environment,” said FNU President Dr Jacqueline Ottmann. “This space will honour our students’ cultural identities and prepare them for professional readiness and growth in the workplace.”
