Due to overwhelming demand, we've reached our funding limit and closed the Advance Ontario program. Unfortunately, we can't start any new projects at this time.
Why is Advance Ontario important for students?
Students benefit from paid work-based learning experiences that enhance their skills, help them form employer networks, and gain career clarity.
Many students are (still) not enrolled in programs allowing them to do a traditional work integrated learning (WIL) experience (internship, placement, coop) or a class-based Riipen WIL experience. Students deserve a chance to gain real-world experience!
Many students don't have the time or bandwidth to invest in a long-term WIL (think about the amazing people in Continuing Education!), but most students can definitely fit a 80-hr project in their agenda, especially if they have up to 8 weeks to complete it! Who doesn't want to be paid for the amazing work they produce?
How do I join Advance Ontario?
If you are interested in joining Advance Ontario, you can sign up to the Count Me In list and verify your eligibility here. You will be contacted when the program opens and you will receive an invitation link via email. For additional information on the process, feel free to check out the Getting Started with Advance Ontario help article.
What is the eligibility criteria for students?
To be eligible, you must be a registered student at an eligible Advance Ontario school. International students are eligible, and must adhere to the Government of Canada's regulations for co-op placements and internships for international students.
How many projects can I complete and how long are the projects?
Students are able to take on up to one Advance Ontario project. Please be mindful of the number of applications you are submitting, so that you do not go over this project limit. Each project is 80 hours in length and can be completed over the course of 2-8 weeks.
Is Advance Ontario available in French?
Yes, Advance Ontario is available in French on the platform. All communications and marketing collaterals are also available in French. If you'd like to use the Riipen platform in French, you can navigate to your dashboard, click the drop down arrow in the top right corner and again on "Settings". Under "Accessibility", you will be able to change your language preference to French.
Do students need to be enrolled in a particular course/program?
Advance Ontario aims to break down barriers, so it is open to any eligible student irrespective of their enrolment.
How are students paid? How long does it take?
Each student will be paid for the project in the form of a stipend which will be sent directly to your bank account via our 3rd party provide, Tipalti. Learn more. For students working on teams, each team member is required to complete 80-hours of work to receive their own $1400 stipend after completing the required exit survey.
Advance Ontario operates on a 14-21 business day payout period for students completing Advance Ontario projects. Your stipend will begin to be processed when the employer you worked with provides feedback on your project submission. If 14 days have elapsed and the employer has not provided feedback, please reach out to the Advance Ontario team. They will reach out to your employer again and if we do not hear back we will review your final deliverable on behalf of the employer, which may cause your payment to be delayed.
What are the Terms and Conditions for the program and what is the three strike system?
In an effort to create a good Advance Ontario experience for all parties, we have updated our Terms and Conditions, which can be found here. Please take a moment to read through them. We've also created a three strike system. This means that if any Riipen user goes against the Terms and Conditions, they will receive a strike. You will be notified via e-mail when/if you've received a strike. If you receive three strikes, you will be removed from the program and will no longer be able to participate and receive a stipend.
What if I decide to quit a project halfway, will I be paid for half the work?
Unfortunately not. Students will be paid once the project is submitted and exit survey is completed, in the form of a stipend. For that reason, students who do not fully complete the project, will not be paid. Additionally, if you do not clearly communicate to the employer and the Advance Ontario team that you are unable to complete a project, you will receive a strike (see three strike system above).
Is the $1,400 payment reserved once a team is matched with a project?
No, the payment is only reserved for active projects meeting specific criteria. More information can be found in the Team States article.
Are students employees of the organization?
No. Students are neither employees of the organization they do a project for, nor of Riipen (who will pay their stipend). As such, students do not qualify for any benefits and will not obtain any record of employment (ROE) from either organizations.
What if my field of study doesn’t necessarily match the project stream (ex: I want to apply to a marketing project, but I am not a marketing student)?
Apply to any project you feel you have the right skills for, no matter which program you are currently enrolled in. So if you have the right skills for the project, even if it is not your program of study, feel free to apply and explain to the organization why you are the right candidate.
Are organizations responsible for providing any specific software they would need students to use?
Yes. While many students have access to a lot of softwares via their institution, it is the responsibility of the organization to provide software license/access to students if required to perform the work (e.g. manufacturing, engineering roles).
What tax documents do I receive?
All students engaged in the Advance Ontario program for the 2023 tax year will be issued a T4A. You can expect to receive this in February, 2024.This will be available in your user settings under "issued documents" and you will receive an email notification when it has been uploaded.If you need a verification letter to confirm your participation in the Advance Ontario program you can request one by sending an email to people@riipen.com and we can verify the dates of your participation.
Still have questions? Reach out to us via live-chat in the avocado found in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.