Employer Symposium: Building Tomorrow's Workforce
A free 4-day virtual symposium for employers, hosted by the University of Victoria.
October 14 to 17, 2025 - online
About this event
As a valued member of the UVic employer network, you'll invited to attend sessions hosted by UVic Co-op and Career Services staff. This event is our way of saying thank you, while giving you insights to help shape the future of work.
Highlights include:
- A keynote presentation by Stephanie Cadieux, Canada's first Chief Accessibility Officer, on workplace accessibility
- Data-driven tips for job postings that attract top student talent
- Hiring practices for international, Indigenous, and new graduate employees
- The role of AI in recruitment and career readiness
- And more!
Register now
If you're an employer who hires co-op students or recent graduates, this event is for you. Join us to learn how to turn your student hiring programs into a powerful pipeline for future talent.
Event program
Time | Session names | About the sessions |
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Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | ||
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. PST | Keynote: Questions and Accessibility (Q&A) conversation with Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer |
A conversational Questions and Accessibility (Q&A) conversation between Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer Ms. Stephanie Cadieux and our own Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator. This conversation provides practical and insightful tips and tricks to increase workplace inclusion and accessibility for organizations of all sizes. Presenter:
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12 - 1 p.m. PST | How to Hire a UVic Co-op Student: Overview, Funding, Timelines and Employer Benefits |
Thinking about hiring a University of Victoria co-op student but unsure how to begin?
Special guest:
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1 - 1:30 p.m. PST | Spectrum of Engagement in Community Engaged Learning |
In this 20-minute presentation we will share how community engaged learning (CEL) differs from other forms of experiential learning such as Co-op and Work Integrated Learning (WIL). Presenters will share the purpose, ethics/philosophy and spectrum of engagement with community partners (20 minutes, 10 minutes for presentation, 10 minutes for questions). Presenters:
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Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | ||
9 - 10 a.m. PST | Supporting Students' Career Readiness through Curriculum |
In this presentation, we will describe several curriculum initiatives across Co-op & Career that support students to graduate career-ready. We will highlight our competency assessment process on the Co-op & Career portal and the centralized curriculum we offer through the Career Services website. We will also showcase two Brightspace courses that we offer: the Introduction to Professional Practice, our preparation course for all co-op students and Your Career Starts Here, our new careers course for undergraduate and graduate students. Presenters:
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11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PST | Strengthening Recruitment and Retention with the Indigenous WIL Resource Hub |
This session introduces employers to the Indigenous Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Resource Hub and highlights best practices for hiring and retaining Indigenous students. Participants will gain practical strategies, tools, and cultural insights to build stronger, more inclusive recruitment and retention practices that support Indigenous student success. Presenter:
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2 - 3 p.m. PST | Hiring Smarter: Insights from our co-op data |
What does the data tell us about attracting student talent from UVic? In this session, we'll share key insights from the University of Victoria’s co-op program on factors that drive student engagement and what that means for employers looking to optimize their hiring strategies. Learn when students are available and most active in their job search, which jobs capture attention, and how to make the most of postings. Presenter:
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Thursday, October 16, 2025 | ||
9 - 10 a.m. PST | AI and The Future of Hiring: What employers Need to Know |
This presentation explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping hiring and the future of work. From the role of AI in cover letters and online interviews, to its impact on entry-level positions, workforce demographics, and the skills employers now value most, we’ll examine both the challenges and opportunities AI brings. We’ll also discuss how AI is transforming workplace tools, why adaptability and people skills matter more than ever, and how employers can connect with universities and co-op programs to build a future-ready workforce. Presenter:
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11 a.m. - 12 a.m. PST | What are you missing out on when not actively hiring Students from International Pathways (SFIP)? |
Join us for this session and hear from employers spanning from the non-profit to a multinational corporation on how they actively recruit students from International Pathways and the benefits they receive as a team and company as many of these students’ knowledge and expertise provide a culture add to ultimately better serve their clientele and business outreach. We will also provide tangible strategies on how you can better integrate equitable hiring practices in your organization including the ACE-WIL Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit for employers to attract, hire and onboard SFIP. Presenters:
Panelists:
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2 - 3 p.m. PST | Employer Panel: Inclusion at Work: Practical Ideas from Accessible Employers |
Join the Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator for an engaging panel conversation on what strategies accessible employers use to ensure inclusive and accessible representation of the community they serve. Presenter:
Panelists:
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Friday, October 17, 2025 | ||
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PST | Best Practices for Hiring Recent Graduates |
In this presentation, Career Educator Joy Andrews will discuss best practices in attracting and retaining skilled and talented recent graduates. From posting the job to selecting your chosen candidate, she'll share strategies to help you become an employer of choice. You'll have an opportunity to assess your practices including strategies to engage with students prior to graduation that help you connect with today's new grads. Presenter:
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