Hiring a MAPS student

There are two options for hiring a MAPS student:

1. Practicum Placements

Most of our students will complete a practicum as part of their program. We are looking for employers to host our students for these paid placements for Summer 2023. Placements can range in length, but most will be about six months.

2. Internships

We also want to help our students secure paid internship positions of up to one year in length after the program if they are interested. As early as December 2022, we may have students searching for positions. These positions will be designed to help students bridge the gap to full-time employment in the policy field.

Thinking of hiring a MAPS Student? Here's why that's a great idea!

Our students will be trained to conduct leading research in public policy.
They will have familiarity with a variety of policy approaches and research methodologies.
Our students will have a broad understanding of the public sector, and are trained to advance the development and implementation of informed policy solutions throughout, across, and beyond government systems.
Hiring our students allows employers to gain access to top new talent.
In some cases, there is access to salary matching dollars. Salary matching is offered through the University of Alberta's Graduate Student Internship Program, which is funded by the Government of Alberta.
Our students are prepared to hit the ground running when they enter a work place. They are engaged in experiential learning that includes working with real-world policy case studies, hearing from policy practitioners, and developing professional skills, such as business communication, critical thinking, research methods training, project planning, change leadership, and teamwork.
All students are required to take a course on Indigenous Engagement, Governance and Policy.

The program seeks to be aligned with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (especially number 57, which states “We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism”).

Students are evaluated through a 360 degree assessment tool that evaluates their growth in behavioural competencies such as systems thinking, creativity, initiative, collegiality and inclusiveness.
We expect that students take responsibility for their own professional development from the start of the program, and encourage students to develop initiative and self-awareness.
Because our students are learning, working, and connecting with a variety of levels of government, public sector organizations can benefit from the cross-pollination of ideas across government.