U of G Internship Course Will Match Master’s Students to Agri-Food Employers

Getting that first job post-graduation might be daunting, but a University of Guelph course could give students the head start they need.  

A new master’s-level internship course at the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), titled Internship in Agriculture, Environment, Food, and Communities, will help connect graduate students with a range of organizations in the agriculture, environment, food and community sectors.  

The course is designed to provide organizations with valuable support for various projects and business challenges. For students enrolled in course-based master’s programs, the internship course offers hands-on experiential learning opportunities typically reserved for undergraduate co-op programs. 

Dr. Emmanuelle Arnaud, professor and assistant OAC dean (graduate programs), highlights that both students and organizations will benefit from each other. 

“Partner employers will have access to the bright minds of tomorrow’s leaders in agri-food, who bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a deep understanding of their fields,” says Arnaud. “The real strength of this internship lies in tapping into OAC’s network of over 30,000 alumni.” 

This is OAC’s first graduate-level internship supported by U of G’s Experiential Learning Hub. 

“OAC recognizes the immense value of experiential learning in developing professional skills, workplace awareness, and soft skills for all our graduate students,” adds Arnaud. “While we excel in academic training, we also want our students to have opportunities for professional development, and there’s no better way to achieve that than through this