Employers benefit from hiring WIL students from differing backgrounds. This resource pack includes resources to support equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in WIL placements.

EDI Resources

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Toolkit for Employers and Hiring Managers
Six Tools for Diversity in Work Integrated Learning (WIL): Supporting employers to attract, hire and onboard Students from International Pathways (SFIP). The online toolkit brings together evidence-based resources about current practices, the value that diversity brings to a workplace, supports for employers and organizations with on-boarding and hiring, and techniques to coach students on... Learn more »
Toolkit for Employers, Organizations and Programs to Support Students from International Pathways
This project developed a toolkit for employers and organizations to aid them in hiring and supporting SFIP. This project will increase co-op and work-integrated learning opportunities by easing the hiring and on-boarding process for employers and organizations when working with SFIP. To ensure our collective strategies are articulated system-wide, we designed a toolkit by identifying, analysing,... Learn more »
Recognizing Discrimination: Examples of Discrimination in Action
Discrimination may take many different forms. It can happen directly (intentionally) or indirectly (unintentionally), but the impact on the individual remains. When we think of discrimination, we often forget to acknowledge the indirect and subtle ways in which it can occur. However, discrimination today is a lot more 'hidden' than the historical examples of discrimination we often think of when... Learn more »

Expanding WIL Opportunities with an Accessibility Approach
This report investigates the gap in students’ participation in post-secondary institutions’ (PSIs) WIL programs and the need for a targeted approach to increase employment opportunities for students with disabilities (SWD). Relevant External ResourcesAccessibility Resource via Simon Fraser University Statistics: Diversity in Disability Creating Accessible Emails Tips for Hiring and... Learn more »
Understanding Diverse Needs of Diverse Students
British Columbia is the most ethnically diverse province in Canada. Just over 30 percent of British Columbians immigrated to B.C. In order for organizations to stay competitive today, understanding the diverse and intersectional needs of employees is crucial today. Relevant External ResourcesUnderstanding Intersectionality: What is it? Understanding Intersectionality is Critical to Advancing... Learn more »
Supporting Diverse Needs of Diverse Students
In order for employers to stay competitive today, understanding the diverse and intersectional needs of employees is crucial. Here are some resources on how to support diverse needs of diverse WIL students. Relevant External Resources A Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion for HR, People, and DEI Leaders An Inclusive Approach to Holidays, Observances, and Celebrations: A Guide to Celebrating and... Learn more »

Accessible Virtual Events Guide for Co-op and WIL
Pivoting during a pandemic has reinforced the significance of providing online virtual spaces through accessible virtual events, meetings and digital communications. With accessibility in the virtual event sphere often overlooked, this guide aims to provoke action when engaging Work Integrated Learning (WIL) student participants in the virtual event space. Learn more »
Accessible Social Media Guide for Co-op and WIL
Social media content is accessible if it meets the needs universally of all audience members. This means understanding and implementing communication practices that maximize adaptive technologies, ensuring that published content optimizes accessibility features used by some audience members to interpret content. It also means considering all perspectives and providing engaging content that is... Learn more »
Ensuring equity, diversity and personal safety
It is an employers responsibility to ensure the workplace is safe and inclusive for their employees. The University of Victoria has collected frequently asked questions and additional external resources to guide employers. FAQs topics include 'Equity during the hiring process' and 'Creating a safe and inclusive workplace.' Learn more »

First steps on the path to web accessibility: rethinking how we write and deliver career-related resources
This project reviewed, assessed, adapted and redesigned University of Victoria (UVic) Co-operative Education Program and Career Services (Co-op and Career) web-based curriculum to ensure compliance with BC Government Accessibility Legislation. Today’s generation of students are engaging with web and digital content with mobile phones as their primary tool rather than laptops or tablets.... Learn more »
Pulling Together Guides
Guides that are part of an open professional learning series developed for staff across post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. The result of the Indigenization Project, a collaboration between BCcampus and the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. The project was supported by a steering committee of Indigenous education leaders from BC universities, colleges, and... Learn more »
Improving Access to WIL Among Students with Disabilities
This project’s overarching mission was to understand, identify, recognize and remove barriers to participation in order to improve access to Work Integrated Learning (WIL), primarily Co-op, among Students with Disabilities at Okanagan College (OC).  Throughout the project, quantitative research, qualitative conversation and appreciative inquiry were implemented to better understand the aspects... Learn more »