Community Partnerships through PDEL
Our Community Partners comprise the "experiential" component of the PDEL program. These partnerships are vital for the student, but also the communities these connections ultimately serve.
Community Partners of PDEL
Community partner organizations play a vital role in providing valuable experiential learning opportunities to graduate students. These organizations serve as collaborators and hosts, offering real-world environments where students can apply their knowledge and skills in practical settings. By engaging with community partner organizations, graduate students gain hands-on experience, expand their professional networks, and enhance their understanding of the field they are studying. These experiential learning opportunities contribute to the student's personal and academic growth, preparing them for successful careers in their chosen fields.
As the Professional Development and Experiential Learning (PDEL) Program grows, we appreciate the multiple community relationships that have been formed to provide a diverse range of experiential learning experiences. These opportunities are available to students in the MDCH program and other graduate programs.
Read more about the Internship Objectives and Overview
To ensure a productive and mutually beneficial partnership, while meeting the organization’s own goals and objectives, community partner organizations who are involved with, or are considering joining the PDEL program, may want to:
- Inquire about areas of expertise or specialization the student possesses, as well as how these skills can contribute to the projects or initiatives undertaken by your organization.
- Seek a clear understanding of the expectations and scope of work for the graduate student(s) you will work with. Define the specific tasks, responsibilities, and deliverables that can be assigned to graduate students during their engagement with your organization.
- Highlight their organization’s goals and area of focus and explore potential synergies with the PDEL Program to identify shared objectives and ensure collaborative alignment.
- Design meaningful experiential learning opportunities for graduate students that include the development of clearly defined roles and responsibilities for your organization, the specific experiential learning opportunities to be offered, and any anticipated outcomes or deliverables.
- Inquire about the time commitment (i.e., duration of the internship, hours per week) expected from graduate students, how they will be integrated into your organization, and whether their schedules can be flexible to accommodate specific organizational commitments.
- Ensure your organization has the necessary support and resources (e.g., mentorship, supervision, access to relevant tools or technologies, training orientation) available to facilitate the graduate student’s work. Designate a supervisor or mentor who will oversee the student’s work and provide guidance throughout their experiential learning journey. Conducting regular check-ins ensures the partnership remains productive and beneficial for all stakeholders.
- Work with PDEL to formalize the partnership through written agreements or memoranda of understanding that outline the terms and conditions of the partnership, including confidentiality, intellectual property rights, liability, and financial considerations.
- Explore the potential for ongoing or long-term engagement with the graduate student, PDEL Program, and the University of Calgary for future collaborations or hiring opportunities.
- Remote partnership options for out of province partners is an option we are willing to consider for our students if the opportunities exist.
Interested in becoming a partner? Download the Internship Position Information form to create a posting for your organization. Once this has been submitted and approved, it will be posted for students to begin applying to in October - November 2023.
For any queries, please contact our Community Partner Liaison, Mariko at pdel@ucalgary.ca
Our current partnerships include:
Alberta Health Services (AHS) Strategic Clinical Network (SCN) Partners - Primary Health Care Integration (provincial program); Bone & Joint Health; Maternal Newborn Child & Youth; Diabetes, Obesity & Nutrition; and Emergency Strategic Clinical Network.
Healthy Children and Families – AHS
eSIM Provincial Simulation Program - AHS
Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA)
Institute of Health Economics (IHE)
Interior Health British Columbia
Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd.
Brenda Stafford Centre on Aging – O’Brien Institute for Public Health