More than 100 student summer jobs have been created through the renewed Trent Summer Work Experience Program (TSWEP), providing undergraduate and graduate students at Trent University with valuable career experience through paid summer employment opportunities.

"While a summer job provides an important opportunity for university students to earn income, it also offers an excellent opportunity for personal and professional development by building connections and developing skills that will serve them well in their future career paths," explains Dr. Michael Khan, provost and vice-president Academic. “The Trent Summer Work Experience Program is one of the many ways Trent equips students with guaranteed career building experiences alongside leading faculty and staff from across the University.”

A joint initiative of Careerspace and the Office of the Registrar, TSWEP provided funding support to create both part-time and full-time employment opportunities for Trent students this summer.

Through the program, positions were created in more than 60 departments at the University, including the Office of Student Affairs, Housing Services, Bata Library, External Relations and Advancement, as well as within academic departments. These positions allow students to access diverse hands-on work experience with opportunities to engage in research, marketing, data analysis, completing independent projects, assisting and developing ways to pivot department resources online.

“I’ve gained invaluable hands-on experience working for the Trent Community Research Centre,” says Momina Shahid, a third-year Business student specializing in Human Resources Management who is working as a community-based research assistant. “TCRC has provided me with the ideal research experience as well as an amazing opportunity to work directly with members of the local community and community organizations.”   

TSWEP covers the full cost of student salaries, at the regular student rate, for approved summer positions with Trent departments and faculty. To have been eligible for these new positions, students must be returning to study at Trent in the fall and have demonstrated financial need.