Summers Out, Schools In
Welcome, London Ontario students! Whether you are a returning student or a first year freshman, check out our Concierge – your self-serve guide to London. From transportation and health care to job opportunities and night life, the Concierge is your one-stop gateway to discovering London’s key spaces and places. Discover all that London has to offer and start feeling at home!
Looking to work while you learn or have a job lined up after graduation? Check out these job fairs and networking opportunities that can help connect you to employers:
- hirewesternu Career Fair 2015: Over 60 organizations looking to hire Western talent will be onsite to speak to you about their opportunities. This is an excellent way to start making connections and build your professional network!
- Hack Western 2: This student-run hackathon is where students can build mobile, web, or hardware projects from scratch in 36 hours. Through the weekend of November 27-29, 2015, more than 400 students from various backgrounds will engage in an intense weekend of collaboration and development. Many participants land internships as a result of their experience at Hack Western.
- Student 2 Business Career Networking Conference 2016: A marquee event that connects young talent to career opportunities in London, Canada.
To view more upcoming London events, please visit http://www.ledc.com/events.
Developing Tomorrow’s Workforce, Today
- Workforce Development is a top priority for the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). We are actively building our workforce with a four-point strategy to attract and retain high-quality talent.
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Fueled for a Highly Trained Workforce
London’s education sector fuels a highly trained workforce, creating a deep pool of talent for local and global businesses. Skilled and motivated graduates who meet the success requirements of business and industry, combined with strong infrastructure and world-class health care and medical research facilities, make London a city that offers a clear path to prosperity.
London is home to globally recognized higher education institutes and is regarded as a centre of educational excellence. Western University and its affiliate colleges – Brescia University College, Huron University College, and King’s University College – offer unparalleled learning experiences and attract students and faculty from around the world. Fanshawe College is home to more than 17,000 full-time students with thousands more enrolled in part-time, continuing education, and apprenticeship programs.
Talent Pool
When high-tech auto parts manufacturer Brose needs training to keep its workforce on the cutting edge, they turn to Fanshawe College. Fanshawe works with Brose to provide co-op and internship positions to graduates skilled in various advanced manufacturing applications such as laser welding, CNC machining, millwright and more.
This coordinated approach is creating successful industry clusters that attract new companies and jobs.
“We want business and industry to know that when they land in London, they have a partner,” says Rosanna Stumpo Bal, Manager of Corporate Training Solutions at Fanshawe College. “Job-ready education is a key focus for our everyday business and we’re here to provide training solutions that work.”
International Agenda
Currently, 150 students at Fanshawe College are participating in international experiences, activity that is predicted to increase. Fanshawe is unique in having a documented international strategy that actively positions the college to attract international students and ensures its domestic audience has the opportunity to interact globally.
The rallying cry of “global career preparation, home and away” sums up the strategy perfectly. Although 85% of students stay in London and region, the college’s mandate is to graduate a well-trained, global-ready workforce equipped with the most current skills.
“Our city is economical, safe, and an educational hub with a large university and many vocational schools,” says Wendy Curtis, Director for the International Centre at Fanshawe College. “It’s a terrific environment for students and for companies looking for access to well-trained graduates.”
Fanshawe College Quick Facts
- 86.4% of grads find employment within six months
- 160,000 alumni working around the world
- 2,600 full-time faculty and staff
- Consistently ranks in the Top 10 in the Global Student Barometer Index and #2 Ontario
Global Powerhouse
As one of Canada’s top research universities, Western University is a destination of choice for the world’s brightest minds. Faculty and students collaborate regularly with business, industry, government, and our local community to provide expert resources for real-world challenges.
With an annual enrolment of more than 30,000 students, Western is a key contributor to London’s pool of talent and entrepreneurs. An international technology company in London, StarTech.com, is a prime example of Western’s impact. Founded in 1985 by two Western graduates, Paul Seed and Ken Kalopsis, StarTech.com manufacturers over 3,000 information technology (IT) products and operates in 11 difference countries. StarTech’s more than 30,000 active resellers help IT professionals around the globe easily identify, find, and get the parts they need to enable their business solutions.
Recently named as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies and as one of Canada’s 50 Best Small and Medium Employers, StarTech.com employs more than 200 people at its global head office in London, Canada and recruits from Western University and Fanshawe College for a variety of positions. This includes product development, engineering, research and development, finance, sales, and human resources.
Incubating Research and Business
In addition to nurturing the next generation of talent and expertise, Western is also recognized as a global incubator of research and new business. Western recently opened the Collider Centre for Technology Commercialization (Collider), which is anticipated to be one of North America’s leading centres for research, testing, and commercialization of advanced manufacturing technology.
John Capone, Western’s Vice President of Research, says that these centres are expected to create high-quality research and technical jobs, and will collaborate with up to 80 businesses a year by sharing their expertise and contribute to their accelerated commercialization and global opportunities.”
International Highlights
Western’s rich global network includes hundreds of formal partnerships with higher education institutions around the world. Students and faculty benefit from campuses in other countries, research collaborations, and exchange and work abroad programs. Key areas of international teaching or research include imaging, neuroscience, environmental sustainability, materials and biomaterials, wind engineering, and health education.
Western University Quick Facts
- Contributes an estimated $1.5 billion annually in the life sciences and biotechnology research sectors
- Attracts more than $240 million annually in research grants
- Operates as one of the world’s Top 25 Research Parks
- Employs 3,800 full-time faculty and staff
- More Western faculty members have received the prestigious National 3M Teaching Fellowship than any other Ontario university
Economic Resources
The City of London has built a solid foundation for a productive business climate for years to come. ReThink London – the largest public engagement in Canadian history – is creating the blueprint for London’s growth, development and revitalization. Many support agencies in our economic ecosystem provide niche programming to foster innovation, creativity, and economic prosperity in the city.
Some catalysts include TD Canada Trust, Labatt London Brewery, 3M Canada, Goodlife Fitness, McCormick Canada, Big Blue Bubble, and many more.
