Flexible Internship in Agri-Food (UNIV*3140)

[Upbeat music plays while an image of Johnston Green at the University of Guelph is displayed]

[Danica Matovic the UNIV 3140 Internship Coordinator speaks to the camera while sitting in a chair in Johnston Hall.]

Danica Matovic: Most students are very sad when they hear that they can't get into co-op or that their program doesn't have a co-op option because it gives so much great work experience. So that's why the University is launching programs like this one.

[Jessica Fletcher, a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture student majoring in animal science speaks to the camera while siting in a chair in a boardroom.]

Jessica Fletcher: I knew I wanted to do a co-op but that wasn't an option for my program so I thought this would be a good stepping stone.

[Jessica is walking through a food processing facility based out of Elmira, Ontario dressed in a lab coat, hard hat, and safety goggles. The title "Explore Career Options and Directions" appears on screen.]

Jessica: You can either do your hours within one week or you could do a couple hours every week over say ten weeks.

[Danica and an unnamed student are walking outside at the University of Guelph. The title "Establish Professional Networks" appears on screen.]

Danica: For every one agricultural college graduate there's four jobs out there available for them when they're done with their schooling. So we thought, why not bring the agri-food industry to other students across campus.

[Weilun Lin, a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture student majoring in agriculture speaks to the camera from a plant growth facility. Weilun walks around inspecting young plants growing in clear containers. The title "Develop New Skills and Experience" appears on screen.]

Weilun Lin: When I heard of the flexible internship for non-agricultural students like me it's a really good opportunity for us to help us decide what we want to do in the future. They welcome us to come back after graduation.

[Jessica is interacting with grains falling from a large hopper attached to a piece of industrial food processing equipment. Jessica then uses a computer to input data.]

Jessica: For non-agricultural students they get to see the sides of agriculture they wouldn't get within their courses.

[Danica speaks to the camera while sitting in a chair in Johnston Hall.]

Danica: So it's a really great way to figure out if an industry is the right fit for you and if a type of work is the right fit for you.

[Marie-Catherine Marsot, a chef at The Frauxmangerie bakery, wears a white chef's jacket with a Canadian flag on the lapel. Marie-Catherine speaks to the camera.]

Marie-Catherine: We are not just aiming at students in agriculture, it could be any field. So it could apply to a different type of field a different type of degree.

[Marie-Catherine and an unnamed staff member of the The Frauxmangerie bakery rearrange pastries on baking sheets in an industrial kitchen. The title "Diverse Opportunities Available" appears on screen. The unnamed staff member places the baking sheets in an industrial oven.]

Marie-Catherine: And when we have that student here we can tell them you know if you graduate you're welcome here. We have a job waiting for you.

[Jessica is pouring a brown powder into a processing machine for analysis. The title "There are 4 jobs for every OAC graduate" appears on screen.]

Jessica: I've done lots of experience that I can put on resumes, It's connected me with a great company  that I'd love to work with so I'd really recommend it.

[Upbeat music plays as the University Guelph logo is displayed followed by the course code (UNIV 3140) and an acknowledgement that the program is funded in part by the Government of Ontario. For more information, e-mail Danica Matovic (matovic@uoguelph.ca)]