Overview
In partnership with Mitacs, VIU is pleased to offer the Business Strategy Internship (BSI). The award provides 50% matched funding towards either $10,000 or $15,000 per MBA intern to allow them to undertake a four-month internship project with a partner organization in Canada. MBA interns will work with their partner organization to co-design a project with their partner organization to work on the organization’s innovation activities, helping them improve their products, processes, or services. At the start of the BSI process VIU will assign an academic supervisor (work-integrated learning faculty member) who will offer ongoing support throughout the internship to both the student and organization.
Eligibility Requirements
Interested applicants should read through the criteria below to ensure they are eligible for the program.
Partner organizations must be one of the following:
- a for-profit corporation in Canada
- an incorporated not-for-profit (NFP) organization in Canada
- Eligible NFPs include charities, economic development organizations, industry associations, social welfare organizations, health organizations, foundations, and research centres/institutes.
- a municipality
- a hospital
*Important note regarding conflicts of interest *
BSI interns are not allowed to have any position of ownership, employment, or influence over the daily operations at the partner organization. BSI interns with close family relationships or intimate relationships with academic supervisors or employees of the partner organization are not allowed.
Any other Conflicts of Interest (COIs) (for example, involving the academic supervisor and the partner organization) must be disclosed to Mitacs during the application process and will be reviewed by Mitacs’s COI committee.
If a Conflict of Interest (COI) exists, we suggest that you contact the Business Development representative for your region prior to starting an application to ensure that you are eligible for the program. Please visit the Mitacs Conflict of Interest Policy for more information.
Responsibilities
In addition to the VIU MBA Employer responsibilities which can be found at: VIU MBA Employer Responsibilities, Mitacs BSI employers will be required to complete the following steps related to the BSI program and funding:
- Work with their MBA intern to complete the Mitacs BSI project proposal document
- Register an account in Mitacs online RAP portal when requested to do so
- Remit the organizations portion of the funding within a timely manner
- Complete an exit survey within 30 days of the project (internship) end date
How to Get Started
- Review the VIU Mitacs BSI webpages to ensure a full understanding of the program .
- Submit a job posting to the CareerVIU MBA internship opportunity board.
- Complete your hiring process.
- Complete the Mitacs BSI application process and proposal template via its Registration and Application Portal (RAP).
- The proposal template will be provided through the RAP or you can also download the template here for review prior to submission.
- Any conflict of interests (COIs) involving the academic supervisor and the partner organization must be disclosed to Mitacs during the application process and will be reviewed by the Mitacs COI committee. Please visit the Mitacs Conflict of Interest Policy for more information.
When applying through the RAP
The project start date listed in your application should be at least seven weeks later than your submission date to allow Mitacs the appropriate time to process your application.
- Please watch the following video for how to apply through the RAP.
- The project (internship) start date listed in your application should be at least seven weeks later than your submission date to allow Mitacs the appropriate time to process your application.
- Your project start date will be confirmed in your outcome Letter once your project has been approved.
- Your intern may not begin working on the project until the outcome letter has been received and funds have been remitted to Mitacs.
Mitacs BSI Timeline Deadlines
VIU MBA Internship Opportunity Posting (Job Posting) Submission: Second week of October
Completion of hiring process: First week of November
Mitacs RAP Portal Submission Deadline: Last week of November
VIU MBA Internship Opportunity Posting (Job Posting) Submission: Second week of February
Completion of hiring process: First week of March
Mitacs RAP Portal Submission Deadline: Last week of March
Mitacs BSI Checklist for MBA Employers
Review the Mitacs and VIU Mitacs BSI websites for eligibility criteria information and next steps.
Create an employer account in VIU's online portal CareerVIU or, if you already have an account, login and post your internship posting to the MBA job posting board in CareerVIU. Designate it as a Mitacs-funded opportunity via checking off the “Mitacs” checkbox in the posting.
If you need to create a new account it will be approved for use within 1 to 2 business days. Once it is approved you may proceed with posting your internship opportunity.
Receive applications, carry out your hiring process, and inform the VIU MBA Team of your successful candidate.
- Contact Tawnya Hoff with any questions or for assistance with the internship opportunity posting process.
2a. MITACS BSI PROPOSAL
Assist your successful candidate with completion of the Mitacs BSI proposal.
2b. MITACS BSI APPLICATION
Receive email invitation from Mitacs to register in the Mitacs Registration and Application Portal (RAP).
Register in Mitacs RAP portal as instructed & enter your information in the Partner Organization section.
Await invitation email from Mitacs to sign off on the student’s application in the Mitacs RAP.
- You will receive an email from Mitacs letting you know that you have been invited.
- You will need to complete a Conflict of Interest checklist in order to sign off on the application.
- If you see a project listed with a “Draft” status, it is not yet ready for you to sign off on it. Please check back later to for the change in status.
- You will see the project listed with a “Ready for Sign Off” status. Please note that you may not be able to sign off right away, even if you see this status, as a student may still be in the process of completing their application.
- You will receive an email from Mitacs letting you know when the application has been submitted.
2c. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Await Mitacs outcome letter notification email from Mitacs.
Receive invoice from Mitacs for $5000 or $7500 contribution (depending on funding level you selected) towards student remuneration (invoice will arrive prior to proposal being approved by Mitacs).
Remit your contribution to Mitacs per their requirements.
Await Mitacs award letter notification email from Mitacs.
- This will be sent after Mitacs receives your payment.
- This is the official notification from Mitacs that the internship is approved and the student may begin working.
Confirm official start date and end date with student.
- Student will update appropriate VIU systems with official start date.
Sign Vancouver Island University Internship Work Placement Agreement.
3a. Student's work term record will be reviewed and approved by their WIL faculty and they will receive an email letting them know that their work term record has been approved.
STUDENT MAY NOW START THEIR INTERNSHIP
To obtain a PDF version of the Mitacs BSI Timeline & Checklist for MBA Employers please email Tawnya.Hoff@viu.ca.