If you’ve been invited by the ACE Project Space team, you're one step closer to gaining real-world experience and getting paid for your work.
Project structure.
Eligibility
To participate in ACE Project Space projects facilitated through Riipen, students must meet some basic eligibility criteria:
For students:
✅ Must be enrolled at Red River College Polytechnic and a part of The ACE Project Space or Game Development programs.
✅ Must complete identity verification for payment processing.
✅ Must a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and
✅ Are legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation regulations.
Identity verification requires:
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) for tax reporting
- Proof of enrolment at Red River College Polytechnic
If you need more details about ID verification or payment setup, check out this article for a full breakdown.
Need help?
We know starting something new can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created resources to support you every step of the way:
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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.
ACE Project Space has partnered with Riipen to create hands-on learning experiences that connect students with real industry projects — and provide financial support through paid project work.
Through Riipen, students will be matched with projects, track milestones, submit work, and receive payment after completing each phase.
Click below to confirm your eligibility and confirm that you want to be eligible for payment through Riipen.
Learn more about how the program works below.
Level UP is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) Initiatives program
About our partnership with Riipen.
When you join a project through Riipen, you’ll benefit from:
- Real-world experience with Canadian businesses, start-ups, and non-profits.
- A clear project structure, with goals, deadlines, and deliverables.
- Paid opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom.
- Seamless communication and project tracking through the Riipen platform.
Together, ACE Project Space and Riipen make it easier for you to build your skills, grow your professional network, and get career-ready — one project at a time.
Cohort schedule
To ensure a smooth and structured experience for everyone involved, ACE Project Space operates on a cohort model each academic term. Cohorts help organize project timelines, align student availability, and create consistent milestones for employers, students, and staff.
Here’s what to expect for each cohort:
Spring/Summer cohort:
Employer onboarding: Week of May 19
Student onboarding and project matching: Week of May 26
Project phase 1: June 9 – June 20
Project phase 2: June 23 – July 4
Project phase 3: July 7 – July 16
Final experience deadline: July 25*
Fall cohort:
Employer onboarding: Week of September 8
Student onboarding and project matching: Week of September 15
Project phase 1: September 22 – October 3
Project phase 2: October 6 – October 17
Project phase 3: October 20 – October 31
Final experience deadline: November 28*
Please note: Exact dates may be subject to change based on academic calendars and scheduling needs.
*All project phases must be submitted by the cohort’s final project deadline to be eligible for payment.
Projects through ACE Project Space and Riipen are designed to give students real-world, resume-boosting experience in a clear, supportive format:
This structure ensures you stay on track, have clear expectations at every step, and gain valuable skills while getting paid for your contributions.
Academic Term: May 1 - August 8, 2025
Work integrated projects facilitated through Riipen
Academic Term: August 25 - December 5, 2025
Work integrated projects facilitated through Riipen
Winter cohort:
Academic Term: January 5 - April 24, 2026
Work-integrated projects facilitated through Riipen
Employer onboarding: Week of January 16
Student onboarding and project matching: Week of January 19
Project phase 1: January 26 – February 6
Final project deadline: February 20*
- Visit the ACE Project Space Help Centre — your go-to resource for everything from how to find and apply to projects to tips for using Riipen successfully.
- Email us at aceprojectspace@riipen.com with your platform questions.
Full-term engagement with Red River College Polytechnic students.
Projects are broken into three structured phases on Riipen.
Each phase = 60 hours of work over two weeks.
Students are paid $1,400 per completed phase.
Milestones, feedback, and submissions are all managed directly through the Riipen platform.