Connections is an Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) funded collaborative
program built into the existing curriculum of final-year programs within Ontario
colleges and universities. It connects students with industry partners to
address a technology problem defined by the participating company.
Connections offers students the opportunity to apply technical skills to real world
problems, helping them grow as innovators. OCE invests up to $3,500
per team in individual university/college Connections projects.
Over the years, the government of Ontario, through OCE's Connections
program, has touched thousands of students and hundreds of companies. Last
year alone, Connections engaged 1,500 students from 20 universities and
colleges across Ontario in over 310 industry projects. Click here to learn more.
This academic year, in addition to the regular program, the Ontario
Power Authority (OPA) is generously supporting a pilot project with OCE's
Connections program encouraging companies to consider energy conservation
related projects. These projects include system optimization, facility assessment,
process engineering and redevelopment, alternative energy generation,
fuel switching and sustainable building design. Engaging students in these
projects will help create the skilled workforce Ontario needs and combat a
predicted shortfall in skilled energy professionals.
To download or print a PDF backgrounder on Connections, click here.
What makes a Connections Project?
Connections projects are incorporated into the existing curriculum in a college
or university. In most cases, the project is completed by students as part of
their final year course. What differentiates Connections from a co-op placement
or a summer job is that students act more as consultants than employees.
Student teams are given a problem to solve and are responsible for developing
the project plan and solution with input and guidance from academic and
industry experts.
Successful Connections proposals contain the following elements:
- Projects are defined by the industrial participant with the assistance
of a faculty member.
- The project relates to a relevant, industry-specific technological problem.
- Industry partner makes a cash and/or in-kind contribution that
matches or exceeds that of OCE.
- The faculty member selects and matches students to projects.
- The company dedicates a supervisor from their organization to provide
oversight, support and guidance to the student(s).
- Student project leader(s) are appointed for each project to work with
the company supervisor and develop objectives, schedules and
budgets for the project.
Who qualifies as an industry partner?
Industry partners can be a company, not-for-profit, association, or municipality
in Ontario. To see some of the Ontario companies and academic institutions
that participated in Connections over the past year, click here.
How does the funding work?
OCE invests up to $3,500 per team to support project activities such as prototype
development, travel, or product testing. Industry partners contribute an
amount in cash and in-kind that matches or exceeds that of OCE.
OCE contributes:
- Up to $500 for each project involving only one student
- Up to $1,200 for each project involving two students
- Up to $3,500 for each project involving three or more students
Application Process
This academic year, OCE is accepting Connections applications via an online
information management system.
Faculty at an Ontario college or university with interested
students should contact James.Doran@oce-ontario.org or Geraldine.Barrett@oce-ontario.org for a username and password
to access the system.
To learn more about the Connections program please contact:
James Doran
Manager, Business Development
Ontario Centres of Excellence
Tel: 1 (866) 759-6014 x 6006 or (519) 513-2420 x 6006
james.doran@oce-ontario.org
For more information, applicants can also contact a member of OCE's Business Development team working in their sector. |
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