Education

5 SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024 EDUCATION GUIDE SPONSORED CONTENT T undra blooms along the Churchill River as hundreds of beluga whales dri playfully, intrigued by the bubbles trailing Zodiac boats and unbothered by awed kayakers. is annual migration is breathtaking, uniquely Manitoban, and just another day in the classroom for Asper School of Business co-op student Liisa Jalonen. Jalonen is pursuing her Bachelor of Com- merce (BComm) degree at the University of Manitoba and is enrolled in the Asper Co-op Program, one of the largest business co-operative education programs in Western Canada. Co-op work placements give students oppor- tunities to learn on the job and earn money working for real employers, applying their skills from the classroom to the office—or, in Jalonen's case, the tundra. Jalonen is a recruiting and onboarding coordinator at Frontiers North Adventures, a family owned and operated business that has been specializing in adventures to Canada's North for over thirty years. "It's the best job I've ever had," said Jalonen, putting her human resources and marketing majors to good use, supporting HR manager Amber Barrett with job postings, interviews, recruitment and onboarding in Churchill and at Frontiers North's Winnipeg office. Personalized career development e Asper Career Development Centre con- nects hundreds of students like Jalonen to employers seeking inventive, ambitious and knowledgeable business students to support their operations. In 2023, 29% of Asper BComm students participated in co-op, completing 364 work placements. For Jalonen, the Asper Co-op Program offered a more personalized approach to the job search. Asper's team of dedicated co-op coordinators work closely with students to prepare them for every step of their career journey, from interview skills and resume writing to professional development. Students and employers express their top choices and are matched based on these preferences. Between Frontiers North and Jalonen, it was perfect match. "When I interviewed with my current manager Amber, she gave me an amazing overview of the whole organization. I had just returned from an international exchange study term, and I was ready for my next adventure," said Jalonen. is adventurous mindset, her experience in hospitality and her Asper School of Busi- ness education proved to be a winning combination, with Jalonen quickly thriving at work, according to HR manager Amber Barrett, who said "with only a couple days of training and a general explanation of why we knew we needed to enhance our recruitment and onboarding functions, Liisa quickly adapted the role as her own." An easy choice for employers Barrett said that the Asper Co-op Program is an obvious choice for employers, noting that she, FNA president and CEO John Gunter, and more are graduates of the Manitoba business school. "As alumni, we understand the quality of ed- ucation Asper co-op students receive in their program and also how important it is for students to obtain meaningful employment in their chosen field of study," said Barrett. "When it became apparent that we needed support in our HR department, it was an easy decision to make to pursue an Asper co-op student majoring in HR." Jalonen will return to Frontiers North for an- other co-op term this fall. e Asper Co-op Program facilitates these lasting connections between employers and students with 89% of 2023 BComm co-op graduates securing full- time employment aer graduating. Learning by doing e Asper Co-op Program is part of the Asper School of Business' commitment to providing exceptional business education to students in Manitoba with a focus on experi- ential learning—learning by doing. For Jalonen, experiential learning means taking human resource management knowl- edge from the classroom and applying it to a workplace as unique and expansive as Frontiers North Adventures (one may not find the workplace safety protocols of adventure guides and bear guards in a textbook). It's not unlike Frontiers North sending employees to Churchill to experience Canada's North for themselves. As Jalonen put it, "they try to give every employee the opportunity to experience what we are selling." Business for the greater good ese visits are highlights for Jalonen so far, and she describes the art, history and sites that characterize the northern town, and, of course, the flora, fauna and aurora that have made Churchill a must-see destination—a reminder of the importance of sustainability in business and beyond. Recognized in 2023 by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools in Business as an Innovation at Inspires, the Asper Co-op curriculum integrates the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into students' education, encouraging them to seek out ways to advance the SDGs at work. is initiative reflects the Asper School of Business' commitment to advancing sustain- ability by training Manitoba's future leaders to pursue business for the greater good—a perfect fit for Frontiers North, a B Corp Certified organization. Get involved today e Asper Co-op Program gives students the opportunity to use their classroom knowl- edge in the real world, gain professional experience and build their network, all while earning academic credit. Co-op accelerates career paths and sets students up for success as graduates. Said Jalonen, "I credit a lot to the Asper Co-op Program. I've been able to gain work experience while I study, which means that I can apply for roles with more responsibility and challenge once I graduate." "Co-op has definitely furthered my career goals." Co-op also connects employers to Manitoba's top talent today, matching motivated and skilled students who are ready to begin con- tributing to the organization from day one. Said Barrett, "the Asper Co-op Program has provided us with excellent access to a talent pool of smart, eager, dedicated students with fresh perspectives, a general open-minded- ness and knowledge of current trends and technologies." With the Asper Co-op Program, employers gain fresh perspectives, increase their brand recognition and invest in better business education for Manitoba. Give your company a competitive edge and become an Asper School of Business co-op employer. Post a job on our Career Portal for Winter 2024. Asper School of Business co-op program accelerates students' career paths 89% of 2023 BComm co-op graduates secured full-time employment after graduation. BY EMILY WILSON

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