Hands-on learning is an invaluable part of a Trinity Western education for many students, providing them with a broad foundation of skills, experiences, and professional networks as they enter the workplace and future areas of life calling.
Cori Nickel is a third-year Psychology major who is gaining field experience as part of her Human Services Certificate program. She shares about the benefits of her practicum, “I’ve done a lot of youth work. It looks good when interviewing [with prospective employers] to have hands-on experience in a niche area.”
In addition to gaining hands-on experiences, Cori points out that practicum opportunities are a great chance for students to explore different types of work and discover one’s passion. Niche areas for students to explore within the Human Services Certificate program can include counselling, restorative justice, addictions recovery, family services, Indigenous services, refugee and settlement support, child and youth work, and more.
To better connect students with all the available opportunities, Trinity Western hosted a USERVE career fair on March 9 at the Langley campus. More than 20 local B.C. health care, social and not-for-profit organizations participated by hosting a booth inside the Reimer Student Centre. Among them were representatives from Fraser Health Authority, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, The Salvation Army Canada, and many other groups who took the time to share with TWU students about their organizations’ mission, activities, and placement opportunities.
Many local organizations have a history of hiring and providing volunteer and practicum placements for Trinity Western students. The Salvation Army’s Gateway of Hope in Langley, for example, has had many TWU volunteers preparing food and serving meals to its clients.
Similarly, Wagner Hills Farm Society in Langley has benefitted from the participation of TWU students and graduates. As Connor Green comments, “TWU students have been a huge asset, taking part in intake planning, leading courses and classes, and tending to the practical needs of residents.”
Erik Niebuhr is a practicum student at Wagner Hills. He started by participating in a men’s program, walking alongside and building relationships with participants. Now he is assisting with intake processes, service programs, and welcoming at the front desk. Erik says of his experience, “It has been really rewarding, and I’ve learned a lot about the addictions and recovery process.”
Herv Bezjak of BGC Canada says that TWU students who help with their drop-in program for kids and youth provide mentorship that positively influences a young person’s life outcomes. Examples of BGC services include high school homework help, life skills coaching, career explorations, and social support. Practicum students and staff from TWU are serving in roles such as events planning and hosting, leading activities, and tutoring youth.
The USERVE career fair on March 9 is the third career fair that Trinity Western has hosted this month. Earlier in March, TWU hosted a Corporate Hiring Fair in collaboration with the School of Business, which featured companies including Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, Chick-fil-A, Vancity, Cintas, and others. As well, in collaboration with TWU’s Admissions team, the University hosted a Camp Recruitment Fair that welcomed participation from Green Bay Bible Camp, RockRidge Canyon, Timberline Ranch, and others. Led by TWU’s Centre for Calling & Career Development, these networking events are further supported by resources that help students prepare their resume, learn how to network with employers, and access career-related workshops and tutorials. In total, several hundred students attended the March on-campus career fairs, which welcomed representatives from more than 50 local companies, camps, and organizations.
For students seeking to explore more future pathways, upcoming events at TWU include a Vancouver Police Department Info Session, Resume Writing for Internationally Trained Professionals, and a Hiring Fair at TWU Richmond Campus.
About TWU’s Centre for Calling & Career Development
The Centre for Calling and Career Development assists TWU students and alumni in exploring personal, educational, and career options to make informed decisions about the future. We are committed to helping you discover and create a personalized career development plan that will inspire you from your first days on campus through graduation and beyond. Learn more at TWU’s Centre for Calling & Career Development.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.