Skilled, motivated students from Thompson Rivers University ready to support your business. Level UP connects you with post-secondary students from across Canada who are eager to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world challenges. These students are motivated, curious, and looking to grow. They bring fresh perspectives and emerging skills to your project. Students work on 60-hour, short-term projects and are paid a $1,400 stipend directly by Riipen, thanks in part to the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) Initiatives program. This means there’s no cost to you. Level UP makes it easy to tackle meaningful tasks, test ideas, or explore new opportunities with the support of engaged, early-career talent—while helping the next generation of professionals grow. Project timeline: Request to match your project: May 12 - June 6, 2025 Program administrators will review all requests and let you know if changes are needed to set the project up for success. Students invited to join: June 16, 2025 Students apply to projects: June 16 - June 27, 2025 Student will apply to projects. You must review applications and accept your team(s) during this period. Max project start date: July 7, 2025 Max project end date: August 29, 2025 For more program details, see our landing page for employers

This experience supports students participating in the TRU Business Bootstrap Program and Research to Venture Program by offering them a structured, credit-eligible entrepreneurship sprint. Over the summer, students will develop and present their business ideas in collaborative learning pods using Riipen. Each pod includes a student entrepreneur, 1–2 research assistants, and an employer mentor. Students will document their business development journey, conduct applied research, receive targeted feedback, and prepare for a final showcase presentation. Participants: There are 21 learning pods in total, each with 3–4 members. Entrepreneurs: Domestic students enrolled in Co-op 3300 (Work Term 1) Research Assistants: Domestic students in Research to Venture, contributing ~100 hours Mentors: Provided via TRU Generator, Venture Kamloops, etc. Learning Outcomes Students will: Gain hands-on business and research experience Apply entrepreneurial and analytical thinking Collaborate across disciplines in a real-world business context Practice pitching and presenting their venture Timeline May 14 @ 1:00 PM – Initial coordination meeting June 4 – Orientation & Riipen onboarding July 15 – Mid-term checkpoint / site visit August 31 – Final showcase presentation (poster & pitch) Funding Eligible participants will receive: $1800 Bootstrap Bursary (entrepreneurs only, if domestic) Undergraduate Research Certificate (for Research Assistants) Access to mentorship, workshops , and 100+ hours of research support

Our learners are 2nd and 3rd Diploma and Degree Computer Science and Information Technology International students from Thompson Rivers University. They may have completed core academic coursework in areas such as: Programming (Java, Python, C++) Web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) Database management (SQL, MySQL) Systems analysis and design Software engineering principles Networking and cybersecurity foundations UI/UX fundamentals Cloud computing and data structures They bring problem-solving skills, adaptability, and experience working on collaborative, real-world projects through their coursework. Many students have also completed personal, volunteer, or academic projects in GitHub environments.

This program immerses learners in the practical aspects of tourism management by engaging them with industry-relevant projects. Participants will enhance their skills in technology application, resource management, marketing strategies, and policy development. By working on real-world challenges, learners will develop strategic plans, propose innovative solutions, and gain hands-on experience with industry tools. This experience prepares them for successful careers in the tourism sector by fostering critical skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and analytical thinking.