Short-term paid projects for eligible  learners

How the program works

Gain experience. Grow your network. 

Riipen connects eligible learners with short-term projects that help you build real-world skills, prepare for your career or a career change, and expand your professional network.

The AKITO & Riipen: Building Tomorrow's Workforce program is designed to give motivated learners real-world experience in today's most in demand technologies. Here's how it works:

  1. Eligibility: If you're currently enrolled at a recognized post-secondary institution in North America, you're eligible to participate. Whether you're studying full-time or part-time, we welcome learners from all disciplines who are eager to build future-ready skills. 
  2. Apply to your 60-hour project: Apply to 60-hour industry projects in one of the world's fastest-growing tech domains. Projects span a range of cutting-edge fields, including:
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Blockchain
    • Cloud Computing
    • Data Science
    • Programming & Software Development
    • Quantum Computing 
  3. Learn by doing: You'll work through your project with guidance from industry professionals and structurd checkpoints to keep you on track. Each project is designed to give you practical, portfolio-ready experience while helping you build confidence in complex technical topics. 
  4. Build skills that matter: By the end of your project, you'll walk away with tangible experience, a completed deliverable, and skills that set you apart - whether you're preparing for internships, launching your career or exploring emerging technologies.  

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.

Confirm interest

Real projects. Real growth. Real impact.
Riipen's short-term projects are 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.

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.

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.

Wave 3:

Applications open: February 9 - March 6, 2026*
Students invited: March 9, 2026
Students apply to projects: March 9 - 17, 2026
Project start date: March 30, 2026
Project end date: May 23, 2026