Transformative Talent Internships expand on campus to create new opportunities for graduate students

For nearly a decade, the Transformative Talent Internships (TTI) program has helped graduate students at UCalgary bridge the gap between academia and the professional world. Through the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), students have gained hands-on experience in diverse sectors — translating their research and academic expertise into real-world impact in Calgary, Canada and internationally.

Now, TTI has taken an exciting new focus in that evolution: bringing those professional learning experiences directly onto UCalgary’s campuses.

An accessible way to gain experience

Launched as a pilot over the 2024–25 academic year, the TTI On-Campus program gives graduate students the opportunity to develop their professional and transferable skills by working alongside UCalgary faculty, staff and campus partners. In alignment with UCalgary’s Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan, the program expands experiential and work-integrated learning opportunities that help graduate students apply their research and expertise to real-world challenges.

Unlike traditional TTIs, these placements offer more accessible options by being based on campus, a space students already know and can easily access, while also being shorter in duration (100–209 hours), part-time, and open to both full-time and part-time students. This makes them ideal for graduate students balancing coursework, research and teaching responsibilities. They’re designed for university units that need support for short-term, skill-specific projects that might otherwise stay on the back burner.

“When we first developed the program, we knew there were staff across campus with side-of-desk projects they just couldn’t get to,” explained Lorelei Lachambre, graduate work-integrated learning specialist. “At the same time, many graduate students wanted to build their skills but couldn’t commit to a full-length internship or couldn’t start an internship until they are further along in their program. It was clear these shorter, on-campus opportunities would be a win-win for everyone.”

Reflecting on a successful pilot

Originally aiming to place 30 students, the pilot program exceeded expectations with 47 internships completed and more than 9,000 hours of meaningful, hands-on experience delivered across campus.

Graduate students from across disciplines, including both master’s and PhD programs, took part in the pilot, bringing their creativity, curiosity and expertise to projects across campus. 

“One of the strengths of the program is how it allows students to bridge their disciplinary expertise with transferable skills like communication, collaboration and project management,” said Penny (Pooneh) K. Kordi, TTI On-Campus participant. “This makes it especially valuable for students who are considering careers beyond academia.”

A campus-wide effort

Internships were hosted across a wide range of faculties and units, demonstrating the program’s interest and flexibility:

Participating faculties:

• Cumming School of Medicine
• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Faculty of Nursing
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Social Work
• Schulich School of Engineering
• Werklund School of Education

Participating units:

• Calgary Institute for the Humanities
• Centre for Career and Personal Development
• Community Engagement / Partnerships
• Development and Alumni
• Dinos Athletics
• Environment, Health and Safety
• Global Learning
• Government Relations
• Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking
• Libraries and Cultural Resources
• McCaig Institute
• O’Brien Institute for Public Health
• Office of External Relations
• Office of Institutional Analysis
• Office of Signature Learning Experiences
• Office of the Internal Auditor
• Provost Office
• Research Services
• Residence Services
• Sexual and Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Office
• Student Experience and Support
• Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning

“Our graduate student was amazing,” said Nicole McMillan, Development and Alumni. “He brought real value and technical skill to our team, helping us move forward a key process improvement initiative. His project modernized our gift intake system, creating a single, user-friendly platform that automates workflows and streamlines how data is collected and shared.”

What’s next?

Following the success of the pilot, FGS plans to expand TTI On-Campus and continue embedding accessible experiential learning opportunities into the graduate student experience. The goal is for the program to become a go-to option for university departments and faculties seeking short-term, high-impact project support and for graduate students eager to develop the skills, confidence and connections that will serve them in any career path.

Interested faculties and departments looking to offer an on-campus internship are encouraged to contact the FGS Graduate Internship team.

More information on the TTI On-Campus program can be found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.