Work Experience (WEX) approved programs pair experiential learning with paid work terms
Learn, work and get paid – all before graduation.
A new program led by the University of Guelph’s Experiential Learning Hub called Work Experience (WEX) will offer on-the-job learning to both undergraduate and graduate students starting fall 2026.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in a full-time, paid work experience during their degree in a WEX-approved program.
The Experiential Learning Hub provides suitable WEX roles and supports students through the competitive job search: application, interview and offer processes.
“The goal of WEX is to provide more undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to work in a vocational setting during their degree, where more traditional forms of work-integrated learning like co-op may not be feasible,” says Elaine Fenner, director of Experiential Learning.
Students taking French (undergraduate), Classical and Modern Cultures (undergraduate) and Master in Engineering (graduate) will be the first eligible to participate this fall 2026, with more academic programs planned for the future.
WEX courses pave the path to employment
To complete the program and receive WEX certification, students must pass three WEX courses sequentially.
The two prerequisite courses, WEX Preparation and WEX Employment Process, are offered through distance education and are designed to equip students with the skills and confidence to navigate an employment process.
The WEX Preparation course provides modules on career exploration, identifying the student’s knowledge, skills and abilities needed to create targeted application packages.
In the second WEX Employment Process course, students receive interview preparation and support while they apply for WEX positions on a job board that only they can access. The course also covers legislation, maintaining employee health and safety and workplace diversity.
The work experience itself is a semester-long course designed for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in a vocational setting. Students will develop goals during the semester and work with their employers to evaluate their progress.
While the employment process can be competitive, students will be supported by WEX coordinators at the Experiential Learning Hub. If students are not employed during the first round, they will receive a second opportunity to secure a work experience.
International students who are eligible to work in Canada may also participate in WEX.
WEX complements U of G’s successful co-op program
“U of G has the second-largest co-op university program in Ontario,” says Fenner, “and now we’ll be adding this new work-integrated learning option to increase the number of graduates with a work-integrated learning experience.”
Unique among universities, WEX is designed specifically for academic programs without co-op options.
WEX students will graduate in the same amount of time as their non-WEX counterparts while gaining industry experience.
A singular, shorter work term allows students greater flexibility to explore opportunities in distinct occupations and industries. Furthermore, any student in a WEX-approved program is eligible to enroll, removing barriers to participation.
Join the WEX program
Interested employers and faculty from any field can contact Dr. Laura Gatto, lead designer of WEX, to join the new program. Students can learn more here.
“It takes a village to build and run a work-integrated learning program, and I want to thank the numerous people who were involved in the development of WEX and who will be facilitating WEX in the Experiential Learning Hub,” says Gatto. “It is very clear that we are a campus community that cares about the student experience at U of G.”
The Experiential Learning Hub coordinates experiential and work-integrated learning opportunities on and off campus, career education and community learning to prepare job-ready graduates.
To learn more, visit the WEX webpage.