Students must read and adhere to these terms and conditions to participate in Riipen FuturePath. Riipen reserves the right to remove or suspend participants for violations.
This article is a general guide to the Riipen FuturePath program. Some terms may vary by cohort. You are required to read and sign the official Terms and Conditions provided for your specific cohort when you join the program.
1. Eligibility Requirements
To participate in the FuturePath program, I confirm that I meet all of the following criteria:
I am currently enrolled at an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution or approved institution and will maintain this status throughout my participation.
I am enrolled in at least one course during the current academic term.
I am a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, and legally authorized to work in Canada.
I will be physically located in Canada for the full duration of my project.
I am not an international student.
I am in the final 50% of my undergraduate program, or enrolled in a Master’s, PhD, or equivalent graduate program
College or University Certificate (2-year programs): Must be in 2nd year or above
Bachelor’s Degree (3–4 year programs): Must be in 3rd year or above
Master’s or Doctorate: Any year is eligible
Students in programs that are 1 year or less are not eligible
Students with unique educational backgrounds (e.g., multiple bachelor’s degrees or returning to school after prior completion) should reach out to us directly for guidance
Riipen reserves the right to verify eligibility at any time. Failure to meet these requirements will result in removal from the program.
2. Participation Requirements
By participating in FuturePath, I agree to the following:
Program limits and account integrity
I will maintain only one Riipen account.
I will not attempt to bypass program limits through duplicate accounts or alternate identities.
Program limits and funding cap
I may complete a maximum of 420 total hours with one employer within a single funding period (May 2026 to April 2027).
I understand that exceeding this limit will result in ineligibility for additional compensation.
I will complete only one project per cohort of the FuturePath program.
Engagement and accountability
I will remain active, responsive, and engaged throughout the project.
I understand that inactivity, missed requirements, or lack of communication may result in removal and loss of payment.
Placement
Submitting an application does not guarantee placement.
Selection is determined by the employer based on suitability and availability.
3. Employment Status and Declarations
I acknowledge that:
I am not an employee of Riipen Networks Inc.
I am not an employee, contractor, or affiliate of the project employer.
I do not have a conflict of interest with the employer (including personal, financial, or professional relationships).
I am not eligible for Employment Insurance as a result of this experience.
I am responsible for reporting all income earned through this program in accordance with Canadian tax laws.
Note: Riipen is not required to provide T4As as per new tax legislation.
4. Project Requirements
Participation in FuturePath is contingent on meeting all requirements outlined below.
Project Matching
I must be officially matched to a project through the Riipen platform.
I must complete dual acceptance of the project before starting work.
Once matched, the project is final. Changes, transfers, or accommodations are not permitted.
I must press “Start project” on or before the project start date.
I will not start work until I hear and confirm from the employer that I can begin.
Work Requirements
I must complete between 10 and 420 hours, as defined in the project scope, within the allocated timeframe, within a maximum of 16 weeks.
I must work a minimum of 4 hours to be eligible for any compensation.
I will typically contribute the following hours per week, depending on the length of the project:
Project length less than 60 hours: 15 hours bi-weekly
Project length 61-250 hours: 15 hours per week
Project length 251-420 hours: 30 hours per week
I must not exceed:
10 hours per day
30 hours per week
I must accurately log all hours using the Riipen work log and log my hours as work is completed. Failure to log hours within the Riipen platform within 7 days will result in follow up from Riipen, and repeat offences can result in removal from the cohort or platform.
I understand that:
Only hours approved and guided by the employer, as well as Riipen, will be eligible for payment.
Hours worked off platform and not logged on the platform will not be counted.
Hours exceeding the approved project scope will not be compensated.
Communication and Engagement
I will maintain regular and professional communication with the employer.
I will complete work as directed within the defined project scope.
I will notify Riipen immediately if:
The employer becomes unresponsive
There are issues affecting project completion
Delays in reporting may impact eligibility for payment.
Deliverables and Completion
To be eligible for payment, I must:
Submit all required deliverables through the Riipen platform, including:
Final project submission
Completed work log
Required reflection
Complete the project exit survey.
All final deliverables must be submitted in full through the Riipen platform and must clearly reflect the work completed during the project period. Deliverables must include sufficient detail to demonstrate the scope of work completed and align with the number of hours being claimed for compensation.
Limited redaction of confidential or sensitive information is permitted; however, all submissions must remain compliant with Riipen’s NDA policy and retain enough detail to validate the work performed.
Failure to submit complete and compliant deliverables may result in the project being deemed incomplete and ineligible for payment.
Provide any additional requested information within 10 days of request.
Failure to complete any of the above will result in the project being deemed incomplete and ineligible for payment.
Project Changes, Pauses, and Cancellations
If Riipen pauses or cancels a project:
I will only be compensated for hours logged on the platform up to the time of notice, regardless of whether or not additional hours have been completed and not recorded.
I will immediately stop all work unless otherwise instructed by Riipen.
No additional hours worked after notice will be compensated unless explicitly approved.
Payment Conditions
Payment is based on approved hours completed within the project scope.
Partial payment is permitted only for approved hours completed, provided all other requirements are met.
All payment-related questions must be raised and resolved within the funding period.
Payment will be issued according to the cohort or program schedule.
Dispute Process
Should any of my invoices be disputed by FuturePath administrators or my employer, I agree to:
Follow instructions and adhere to requests provided by Riipen staff within the dispute within a timely manner (e.g. cancelling and resubmitting non-compliant work logs, updating submissions, etc.)
Provide any additional requested information or documentation as requested.
Per Riipen’s Dispute Resolution Policy, all parties involved in the dispute are required to respond to communications from Riipen staff in a timely manner. Failure to respond promptly, follow written instructions, or fulfil requests may result in a dismissal of the dispute or a decision that is unfavourable to the non-responsive party.
Upon completion of the review, Riipen will issue a decision regarding the dispute. This decision is final and binding for all parties involved.
7. Bring Your Own Student Cohort Participation
This section applies only to students who are participating in the Bring Your Own cohort:
If the email address provided by your employer to Riipen differs from the email associated with your Riipen account, you must notify the program team within five (5) days of being invited to participate so your account can be correctly matched.
Students are required to complete all onboarding and verification steps within thirty (30) days of being invited to the cohort. Failure to complete these steps within this timeframe may result in removal from the onboarding process and ineligibility to participate in the program.
8. Prohibited Behaviours
The following actions are strictly prohibited and may result in removal from the program and loss of compensation:
Creating multiple accounts or misrepresenting identity or eligibility.
Collaborating with employers where a personal, professional, or financial relationship already exists.
Exceeding the 420-hour limit with a single employer within the funding period.
Logging hours not worked or not approved by the employer.
Completing work outside the Riipen platform.
Falsifying work logs, deliverables, or submissions.
Engaging in plagiarism, unauthorized use of AI-generated or AI-assisted content, or any other misrepresentation of source of work.
Failing to follow employer direction within the agreed project scope.
Accepting or requesting compensation outside of the FuturePath program.
Failing to stop work after a project pause or cancellation notice.
Withdrawing from a project without informing the employer and/or the Riipen team
Removing or deleting work delivered to the employer after project completion.
Engaging in side agreements with an employer for payment or other compensation outside of Riipen’s invoicing system.
Using employer and/or project data for use outside the FuturePath program.
Riipen reserves the right to investigate and determine violations at its sole discretion.
8. Misrepresentation and Repayment
Any misrepresentation of identity, eligibility, or participation will result in immediate removal and forfeiture of compensation.
If I receive payment I am not entitled to, I agree to repay the full amount upon request.
Riipen reserves the right to pursue recovery of funds and take further action where necessary.
9. Respectful Behaviour Agreement
I agree to:
Conduct myself with professionalism, respect, and integrity.
Refrain from harassment, discrimination, hate speech, threats, or abusive behaviour.
Engage constructively with employers and Riipen staff.
Understand that violations may result in immediate removal without notice.
Accept that Riipen’s determination of misconduct is final.
10. Critical Conditions Confirmation
I acknowledge and explicitly confirm the following key conditions:
I understand that I must remain physically located in Canada for the full duration of my project.
I understand that I may complete a maximum of 420 hours with one employer per funding period.
I understand that only approved and logged hours will be compensated.
I understand that I must complete all required deliverables and surveys to receive payment.
I understand that I must stop work immediately if a project is paused or cancelled.
I understand that all work must be completed through the Riipen platform.
I understand that once matched, my project cannot be changed or reassigned.
11. Data Collection, Use and Sharing
By participating in this program, I acknowledge and agree that:
Riipen may collect, store, and use my personal and participation-related information for the purposes of program administration, eligibility verification, reporting, and evaluation.
This information may include, but is not limited to, my name, contact information, educational or organizational details, project participation data, and survey responses.
Riipen may share relevant information with its funding partner, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), to meet program reporting, auditing, and compliance requirements.
My information may be used in aggregated and anonymized formats for internal analysis, impact measurement, and reporting purposes.
Riipen will handle personal information in accordance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.
I understand that participation in the program is conditional upon consent to the collection, use, and sharing of this information as outlined above.
12. Acknowledgement
By participating in the FuturePath program, I acknowledge and agree that:
I have read and understood all requirements, expectations, and conditions outlined in this agreement.
I understand that this is a government-funded program with strict compliance requirements.
I accept full responsibility for managing my time, completing all work, and meeting all requirements.
I understand that failure to meet any requirement may result in loss of compensation.
I understand that Riipen reserves the right to enforce all terms of this agreement at its sole discretion.