A tough time to be an international student in Canada.
International Student Program
It’s a tough time to be an international student in Canada. Navigating a competitive job market while managing visa restrictions can feel isolating.
While many programs help domestic students gain employability skills and coveted “Canadian work experience,” international students are often excluded.
To address this gap, we piloted an employability program designed exclusively for international students, delivered in partnership with Langara College in Vancouver.
At a glance
Over five weeks, 24 international students participated in a tailored Venture for Canada experience featuring:
- Work-integrated learning with real-world projects from Canadian startups
- High-energy in-person events to build community and confidence
- Entrepreneurial skills workshops to complement academic and work commitments
- Networking opportunities with employers and international alumni
The program kicked off in October at Langara College with an in-person event where students shared their stories and selected their projects.
That afternoon, participants joined a panel event with Re-Defined, a non-profit supporting newcomers in Canada. Speakers challenged the idea of the “Canadian experience,” encouraging students to reframe their own stories to resonate with employers.
“We partnered because we know that gaining Canadian experiences is one of the key challenges for international students and this program helps cater to that.”
Real world experience
Students balanced their startup projects with school, exams, and part-time jobs—honing essential skills like time management, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.
Weekly online workshops supported their development.
Sessions included:
- Culture & Communication: led by cultural anthropologist and VFC Employer Advisory Member Samantha Stilwell, with practical strategies to navigate cross-cultural communication challenges
- Financial Literacy: delivered by founding sponsor Scotiabank, covering credit scores, employment scams, and financial tools in Canada
SHARP PRODUCT–MARKET FIT
The International Student Program (ISP) is one of VFC’s clearest examples of product–market fit. Instead of trying to serve everyone, the team intentionally focused on a specific audience with shared challenges and goals.
By deeply understanding the systemic barriers international students face, ISP delivered highly tailored entrepreneurial skills training and paid work-integrated learning opportunities. This clarity drove exceptional engagement: 100% attendance, full camera-on participation, and overwhelmingly positive feedback.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity, the virtual training sessions, the panels, the chance to learn a new skill through the work placement, and the staff at VFC. I left the program more confident and charged to go after what I want, notwithstanding fear.”
In a sector where 60% session attendance is often the benchmark, ISP showed what’s possible with thoughtful, audience-specific design. It reinforced that creating inclusive programming requires more than good intentions—it demands intentional structures, trusted delivery, and deep contextual understanding.
LOOKING AHEAD
This pilot significantly improved participants’ confidence and career readiness while providing valuable learning for our team. We’re grateful to our partners Langara College, Re-Defined, Scotiabank, our employer partners, and everyone who supported this pilot.
ISP is already serving as a model for future VFC initiatives, informing how we design future iterations of our Fellowship and other programs with greater specificity and impact.