Short-term paid projects for eligible learners
How the program works
Gain experience. Grow your network. Get paid
Riipen connects eligible learners with short-term paid projects that help you build real-world skills, prepare for your career or a career change, and expand your professional network.
Eligibility
To participate, you’ll need to meet some basic requirements. You’re eligible if you:
*Application dates are approximate and subject to change without notice.
- Are currently enrolled with the an eligible Canadian post-secondary Institution
- Are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Are legally allowed to work in Canada, based on your province or territory’s regulations
You’ll also need to provide the following to participate:
Employment and Social Development Canada, our funder, requires identity verification for all participants. Make sure you have:
- A piece of valid government-issued photo ID
- Proof of enrolment for the current or upcoming term. You can download it from [school name] here.
- Your SIN (required for tax purposes)
- Your banking information so we can pay you
Need more details on ID verification? Read this article for a full breakdown.
Need help?
It takes time to learn a new platform or program. That’s why we’ve created a variety of resources to support you.
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ABOUT US
Riipen is enabling transformative opportunities for post-secondary institutions to collaborate with companies on real-time, real-world challenges that are embedded directly into coursework driving enhanced learner and employability outcomes.
Real projects. Real growth. Real impact.
Riipen's short-term projects are more than a paycheck—it’s a chance to invest in your future. Learners who’ve completed Riipen projects say the experience helped them:
Real-world experience.
The AKITO & Riipen: Building Tomorrow's Workforce program brings together innovative AI-driven tools from AKITO with Riipen's work-integrated learning platform to offer short-term paid projects to eligible learners. This partnership connects learners with real-world opportunities, enabling them to develop in-demand skills while contributing to meaningful projects for employers. Join us in shaping the future workforce by bridging education and employment through hands-on experience.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) Initiatives program
Why participate?
- Strengthen key professional skills such as effective communication, leadership, time management, and strategic thinking
- Enhance career readiness and adaptability in a changing job market
- Expand and deepen your professional network across industries
- Build confidence to pursue new roles, advance in your current career, or successfully navigate a career transition
Project structure.
Each project is 60 hours total. You’ll work an average of 10 hours per week and finish within 2–8 weeks, depending on the cohort timeline.
Application process.
You can apply to up to as many projects as you'd like by completing the Akito project assessment. Based on your results, you'll be matched to projects that align with your skills and goals. Once matched, projects can’t be changed.
Payment.
You’ll be paid $1,400 by direct deposit, within 4 weeks after finishing your project.
Project availability.
You can complete 1 project per cohort. Placements are limited and not guaranteed, so apply to projects as soon as you are invited to the cohort for the best chance of securing a project.
Cohort schedule
We keep things on track—together.
The AKITO & Riipen: Building Tomorrow's Workforce program has an upcoming cohort. This timeline ensures everyone stays aligned and helps projects progress smoothly with clear timelines and expectations from day one.
With a clear, shared roadmap, you'll know exactly when to start, when to finish, and what to expect throughout the process.
Wave 1:
Applications open: August 11 - September 19, 2025*
Students invited: September 22, 2025
Students apply to projects: September 22 - October 3, 2025
Project start date: October 13, 2025
Project end date: December 5, 2025
Help Centre - your resource for all things for the AKITO & Riipen: Building Tomorrow's Workforce program from how to apply to a project to the rules of the program and how to use Riipen. Email akito.ai@riipen.com to get in touch with the Riipen team for support on using the platform or with questions about your project.
Wave 2:
Applications open: September 22 - November 14*
Students invited: November 17, 2025
Students apply to projects: November 17 - 26, 2025
Project start date: December 8, 2025
Project end date: February 6, 2025
*Spots are limited and applications will close once we reach capacity.