Hiring early-career talent can be costly and time-consuming. Riipen’s internship and experiential learning programs help Canadian employers complete real projects with post-secondary students. Often, there is little or no cost. These programs also help you build a future talent pipeline. Programs like Riipen — Future Path and Riipen — Level UP focus on short, project-based work instead of traditional, long-term internships.
Riipen is a national, non-government platform. It connects Canadian employers with post-secondary students to solve real business challenges. Instead of hiring a student for a job, you post a defined project. Riipen then matches you with students who complete the work as part of their academic program.
Project-based, not role-based
You define a deliverable, such as market research, a prototype, or a marketing plan. You do not write a full job description.
Short-term and flexible
Projects range from 10 to 300 hours, depending on the program and school.
Lower or no wage cost
Many Riipen programs are fully subsidized or funded through the student’s institution. You do not need to pay wages upfront or wait for reimbursement.
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter internship and work-placement programs by province and industry in seconds.
Riipen — Future Path is a main experiential learning program for employers across Canada.
Who it’s for:
Canadian businesses and organizations willing to work with post-secondary students on real projects
Project length:
10 to 300 hours per project
Cost to employers:
This is not a traditional wage subsidy. Compensation is usually handled through the student’s school or a funding partner, not your payroll.
Location:
National. You do not need to be in a specific province.
Projects must be real business challenges. Common examples include:
Projects must be clearly scoped so a student can finish the work within the agreed hours.
Post a project on Riipen
Describe the challenge, skills needed, and timeline.
Student matching
Riipen and partner schools match your project with eligible students.
Project delivery
Students complete the work remotely, in-person, or hybrid, depending on your setup.
Review and close-out
You give feedback at the end of the project.
Riipen — Level UP is another program for employers. It is designed for short, focused projects.
Who it’s for:
Registered Canadian businesses and non-profit organizations
Internship length:
60-hour internships
Cost:
Fully subsidized. Employers do not pay wages.
Work format:
Fully online or hybrid
Level UP is a good choice if you need help with a specific task but do not have the budget or staff for payroll administration.
Riipen programs work best when:
If you need wage reimbursement for an employee on payroll, a program like the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) may work better. See also:
Canadian Workforce & Work-Placement Funding: Complete Guide
Posting vague projects
Students need a clear scope and deliverables. “General business support” is usually not accepted.
Expecting full-time availability
These are academic projects. Timelines and hours are limited.
Treating Riipen like a wage subsidy
Riipen programs do not reimburse payroll. Plan your budget and expectations.
Skipping internal supervision
You still need a staff member to guide and review the student’s work.
Q: Is Riipen — Future Path a paid internship or a wage subsidy?
No. It is an experiential learning program. Students are usually paid through their school or a funding partner, not through employer payroll.
Q: Do employers need to be incorporated?
You must be a legitimate Canadian business or organization. Program requirements may vary.
Q: Can projects be remote?
Yes. Many Riipen projects are fully remote or hybrid, depending on student and employer needs.
Q: How long does it take to get matched with students?
Timelines vary by school and academic term. Posting your project early helps.
Q: Is Riipen funding taxable for employers?
Most Riipen programs do not pay cash to employers. If funds are involved, ask your accountant about taxes.
Riipen internship and experiential learning programs are a strong option if you want short-term, low-risk access to student talent without adding payroll. GrantHub tracks hundreds of active internship, wage subsidy, and work-placement programs across Canada—check which ones match your business profile and hiring plans.
See also:
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