The Waterloo Experience (WE) Accelerate program will help you develop in-demand skills. We collaborated with industry leaders to offer you this innovative option in your first work term. Through content provided by industry collaborators and team-based project experiences, you’ll learn skills while gaining real-world experience - all while earning a flexible work term credit.
WE Accelerate is designed to help students build on the skills they have, while also developing the skills they need. I've had previous students come back and tell me they were able to get interviews and secure their next co-op because of what they learned through the program.
How the WE Accelerate program can help:
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Build the skills employers are looking for.
- Apply new skills to real world projects.
- Learn from content created by industry experts.
- Leverage your experience in future job searches through career education.
- Participate remotely from any location.
- Earn a flexible work term credit (learn more about standard vs. flexible work term requirements and how many of each you need to graduate).
- Opt-in to the program and continue to look for a traditional work term. Your spot in the program is secured until the opt-out date of May 24.
How WE Accelerate works
![Arrow pointing right with the words 'career' transcribed on it](/centre-for-work-integrated-learning/sites/default/files/uploads/images/career.png)
Career component
Complete approximately 60 hours total of career programming.
![Dial with 'skill' transcribed on it pointing to varying level of skill](/centre-for-work-integrated-learning/sites/default/files/uploads/images/skill.png)
Skills development
Complete approximately 100 hours of skills development provided by an industry collaborator.
![Scroll with the word "Project" transcribed](/centre-for-work-integrated-learning/sites/default/files/uploads/images/project.png)
Project experience
Complete approximately 120 hours of team-based, real-world project work (roughly 25 hours per week across a 5-week span).
WE Accelerate streams being offered in Fall 2024
Digital Bootcamp
The Digital Bootcamp stream features various mentors throughout the stream. It focuses on designing webpages and marketing tools. You'll learn:
• Website design for desktop and mobile
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Content, email, and video marketing
Enrolment cap: 50 students
Azure and Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft offers the Azure and Artificial Intelligence (AI) stream. It is an introduction to AI and its application across industry. You'll learn about:
• Azure Fundamentals content and certification
• Azure AI Fundamentals content and certification
• Design Thinking
Enrolment cap: Flexible
Timeline and what to expect
WE Accelerate opt-in/opt-out period | Beginning July 31 |
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WE Accelerate Virtual Information Day | Wednesday, July 31
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Deadline to opt-in | Friday, September 13 at 4 p.m. (ET)
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Streams assigned | Monday, September 16
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Deadline to opt-out | Friday, September 20 at 9 a.m. (ET)
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WE Accelerate work term begins | September 23 |
Career programming (part 1) | September 23 - 27
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Skill development programming | Beginning September 30
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Project experience | October 28 - November 29 (exact timing will depend on the stream/project)
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Career programming (part 2) | December 2 - 6
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Next steps: Register to attend WE Accelerate Virtual Information Day
- Login to WaterlooWorks and select Career Centre Events from the navigation menu
- From here, locate the WE Accelerate Information Day sessions on the calendar under the corresponding date. You can then click through to register on the event page.
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Please note: Only students who are eligible for the WE Accelerate program this term (undergraduate co-op students going into their first work term who haven’t yet found employment for the fall 2024 work term) will be able to register for the event.
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You’ll receive a confirmation email with one link to access any of the sessions once you register. Feel free to tune in and out as your schedule allows.
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Note: We'll record the webinars and make them available afterwards.
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