Province, Businesses Create Jobs Here for Students
NOTE: A social media version of this release with a video clip, is available at http://novascotia.ca/news/smr/2013-05-22-Grad-Jobs/. Photos will be added after the event.
The province is teaming up with businesses to help recent graduates stay in Nova Scotia through student employment programs.
"We all want our graduates to have the opportunity to stay and build their futures here in Nova Scotia," said Education Minister Ramona Jennex, on behalf of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Graham Steele.
"Without innovative programs like the Co-operative Graduate Placement Program that gives graduates the chance to apply their new skills with Nova Scotia companies, we would see more of our young talent leave the province."
One of the first businesses to participate in the province's Co-operative Graduate Placement Program, Colibri Software in Wolfville, has hired recent graduates for its software development team. Since the company began in 2010, it has relied on various programs, including the Graduate Placement Program and the Strategic Co-operative Education Incentive, to hire students. Colibri employs two recent Acadia University graduates and three students in co-operative education programs at Acadia as part of its team.
"With the help of these two programs, Colibri Software has grown to 12 employees," said John Read, president of Colibri Software. "Thanks to this partnership, we are ready to launch an innovative web-based platform. We will continue to hire students and recent graduates, and provide meaningful jobs in rural Nova Scotia."
Through the program, students and grads like Alex Sandford and Charlie Greene have been able to develop the skills they need for good jobs in Nova Scotia.
"Both the co-operative education program at Acadia University and the Graduate Placement Program have had a huge impact on my career," said Mr. Sandford. "The experience that these opportunities have given me is invaluable. After graduation, I literally walked straight into a full-time position at Colibri because of the Graduate Placement Program."
"I have known for a long time that I want to stay in the Annapolis Valley but didn't think I would be able to find a job here in my field. That's why I was so excited when John offered me a job in Wolfville doing what I love," said Mr. Greene.
"As a Computer Science graduate and officer in the Cadet Instructor Cadre, I enjoy both programming and teaching. At Colibri Software, I am able to do both of these because of how many students we hire. The experience working here has been amazing."
Like many universities and colleges in Nova Scotia, Acadia University offers various co-operative education programs to introduce work skills and provide work experience to students.
The Co-operative Graduate Placement Program provides a 50 per cent wage subsidy, to a maximum of $7,500, to private sector, government-funded and non-profit organizations for the first three months of permanent, full-time employment for a graduate of a co-operative education program at a Nova Scotia college or university.
All Nova Scotia companies are eligible to apply for the Co-operative Graduate Placement Program. The province also offers the Strategic Co-operative Education Incentive for students to connect and develop skills with Nova Scotia employers during their studies.
For more information on the programs, visit www.gov.ns.ca/econ/sep.