March 4, 2026 (Toronto) – Seneca Polytechnic is celebrating its latest investment in experiential learning, having been awarded $225,000 from the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) with support from the Government of Canada.
The $225,000 investment strengthens Seneca’s commitment to helping students gain real-world experience through innovative collaborations with industry partners. These funds will support more than 330 project-based workintegrated learning (WIL) experiences through to April 2027.
The initiative is specifically designed to provide flexible, virtual and scalable opportunities for students while helping private-sector employers solve business challenges, fulfill skills gaps and boost productivity.
The funding builds on the growing relationship that started in 2024 between Seneca and BHER, a network that brings together leading postsecondary institutions and private sector employers to create sustainable, high-quality WIL opportunities for students. This partnership reflects Seneca’s broader commitment to experiential learning and its longstanding leadership in applied, career-focused education.
“Our BHER membership enhances our commitment to experiential learning and supports matching students with top employers,” says Seneca President David Agnew. “We know that what students learn in the classroom is part of what they need to be career-ready and world-ready. Through our BHER membership and other activities, Seneca will continues to ensure our students are prepared with the skills needed for successful careers.”
“Work-integrated learning transforms how young people prepare for the future of work,” says Val Walker, CEO, Business + Higher Education Roundtable. “This partnership between BHER and Seneca Polytechnic continues to create more opportunities for students but also ensures the WIL ecosystem is stronger, more inclusive and better aligned with industry needs.”
The new funding will support three distinct streams of industry collaboration:
- Innovation WIL (InnWIL): Interdisciplinary student teams from more than 75 academic programs will using design thinking and project management to co-create solutions with SMEs.
- Marketing agency: Specialized student teams providing industry support in areas such as marketing strategy and promotions, branding, advertising and market research.
- Business and strategic projects: Specialized student teams providing industry support in areas such as strategic operations, human resources and management to support organizational growth.
Industry partners interested in collaborating with Seneca Polytechnic students on these projects can contact the Experiential Learning team at experiential.learning@senecapolytechnic.ca.
