Mitacs Business Strategy Funding Youth to Help Business

In partnership with Mitacs, the

SFU Beedie School of Business has launched a new internship program called the ‘Mitacs Business Strategy Internship’ program, to connect their MBA students with Canadian businesses.

The program will award $10,000 of funding to each interested and eligible student to undertake a fourmonth project (480 hours) with an incorporated for profit or not-for-profit organization. Selected students will analyze opportunities and provide strategic support to help organizations restore or modify their business disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details:

- The Mitacs Business Strategy Internship will provide a grant of $10,000 per student with the full amount of the award going towards student stipends. The employer will contribute $5,000 (employers being responsible for the additional applicable taxes) and Mitacs will contribute the remaining $5,000. - Internships will be designed to address one or more business strategy components (i.e. marketing strategy, operations strategy, finance strategy, etc.) dependent on the need of the organization or not-for-profit. - Each internship will require supervision from a supervisor at the partner organization.

- Students are expected to check in with their supervisors to report on the progress of their internship. Virtual meetings are acceptable.

- Employers will receive a link to an exit survey at the end of the program, an online questionnaire, to share their experience about the program.

Information for Employers:

Review the employer eligibility requirements prior to proceeding. o A for profit or not-for-profit organization o Incorporated o Willing to contribute $5,000 towards the award o Background/rationale: Explain the current state of the business with reference to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and describe how an intern is important to future success and business strategy. o

Internship scope and anticipated project activities:

Describe the strategic analysis to be undertaken and any subsequent key activities to help restore, modify or pivot business operations in a new business environment disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. o Significance of the project: What specific contributions will the project provide to the partner organization or Canada? What are the challenges facing these sectors that will be addressed? o Skills: Describe the top three skills areas expected to be enhanced for the student as a result of the completion of the project (i.e. knowledge in a business field; methods for solving business problems; use of analytical and software tools to answer business questions; working with others to achieve results; communication skills through presentations and reports; project management skills; interpersonal skills; creative thinking skills; critical thinking skills, etc.) o Skills enhancement: Elaborate how completion of your proposed project will provide opportunity to enhance the above-mentioned skills. o Interaction: Provide an outline of the anticipated interaction between the company supervisor and the student, including the supervision and mentorship that the student will receive, as well as the frequency of these interactions and meeting structure. o Deliverables: Please outline what format the final deliverable will take and how it will be presented to your organization.