Vancouver Island Economic Resiliency Initiative

In response to COVID-19, Vancouver Island University (VIU) and the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship Program partnered to created the Vancouver Island Economic Resiliency Initiative (VI ERI). This initiative assisted organizations that had been effected by the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. VI ERI connected organizations with VIU MBA interns for a four-month internship. The program was designed to assist local organizations, not-for-profits and social enterprises to evaluate, respond and adapt their organizations to their new economic reality.

Vancouver Island University working in partnership with Mitacs and Coast Capital Savings was able to offer financial support in the form of matched funding to local businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Employers were invited to submit internship proposals outlining how they would employ an MBA intern to aid them in recovery from the effects of the pandemic.

MBA students were also invited to submit proposals based on recovery or growth initiatives they co-developed with businesses.

Approved internship funding was provided as follows:

Vancouver Island University - $2500

Mitacts - $5000

Participating Organizations were asked to contribute $2500 towards the intern's remuneration for a total of $10,000 paid as a stipend for the duration of the internship.

Coast Capital Savings contributed $25,000 towards the initiative to increase the number of funded internships that could be offered.

In total 22 funded internships were supported through this initiative.

Acknowledgements

The Vancouver Island Economic Resiliency Initiative was made possible thanks to the Government of Canada and supporting government offices. A special thank you goes out to VIU and Mitacs for their input and support.

VIU is grateful for the generous contribution from Coast Capital Savings in support of the VIU MBA program and Vancouver Island Economic Resiliency Initiative.