Media Coverage
Media Coverage
York University’s trailblazing Digital Technologies program
Canada’s first fully work-integrated degree program empowers students with in-demand digital skills, knowledge and experience coveted by top-notch employers. […]
October 24, 2025
News Article in Toronto Star
Sponsored Degrees: Transforming Talent Development for Canada’s Tech Companies
Canadian tech companies face unique resource challenges compared to their global counterparts, and attracting and developing new talent is a crucial way to remain competitive. BHER members Bow Valley College, Carleton University, and York University have been on the forefront of an innovative form of WIL that helps students secure careers and helps employers improve talent recruitment, retention, and productivity […]
March 1, 2025
News Article in BHER.ca
York University’s Digital Technologies program, Canada’s first fully work-integrated degree, completes first year with 100 per cent student contract renewals and new IBM partnership
York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering proudly announces the early success of its Digital Technologies BASc program, Canada’s first fully work-integrated degree, as detailed in the newly released, ‘Breaking Ground on Fully Work-Integrated Degree Programs: Early Findings Revealed Impact Summary 2024.’[…]
July 16, 2024
Pioneering program at York has students working full-time
University Affairs spotlights our fully work-integrated degree program in Digital Technologies program, a first for Canada. The article features an interview with Lassonde’s Associate Dean Academic and Students, Richard Hornsey, and underscores the advantages of this learning model, including increased access for underrepresented groups and benefits for Canada’s tech sector. […]
December 1, 2023
News Article in University Affairs
York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering Introduces Inaugural Cohort of Canada’s First Fully Work-Integrated Degree Program
Lassonde School of Engineering at York University is launching Canada’s first fully work-integrated degree program, designed to address Canada’s digital skills shortage. Starting September 6th, learners in the Digital Technologies program will be employed full-time for four years, earning a salary while studying for a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree. […]
August 31, 2023
Work-integrated learning programs bring innovation to education
Collaboration between universities and employers is becoming increasingly important in today’s competitive global economy. A recent survey of Canadian businesses found that 62 percent reported having difficulty finding job candidates with the right technical skills, especially in technology-related fields. To close the skills gap, employers are looking to universities to […]
January 18, 2023
Op-ed by Jane Goodyer
in Research Money
York University Announces Canada’s First Fully Work Integrated Degree in Digital Technologies
The Lassonde School of Engineering at York University is paving the way when it comes to alternative types of learning, focusing on non-traditional avenues that encourage a company to hire candidates based on their future potential and invest in their learning and development. Something that seems quite innovative in Canada is already well-established in other parts of the world. […]
October 24, 2022
An interview with Jane Goodyer
and Tech Talent
Innovative post-secondary solutions will help solve Canada’s tech-sector skills shortage
Canada is facing a digital skills shortage that, if left unaddressed, will present a major barrier to business growth across all sectors and industries. As corporate leaders continue facing difficulties recruiting and retaining tech talent, universities in Canada can play a vital role in leading the development and implementation of innovative post-secondary solutions that address existing human resources gaps. […]
October 17, 2022
Op-ed by Jane Goodyer
in The Hill Times
Canada is desperate for tech workers. Here’s one way to help solve the problem
Despite layoffs in recent months, technology workers are in high demand in Canada. A look at online job postings reveals many opportunities for software developers, data scientists and other workers in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. There seem to be more jobs than there are qualified people to do them. […]
October 1, 2022
Op-ed by Jane Goodyer
in Toronto Star
Students can earn a salary while they learn
Whether you’re trying to complete a university degree or earn a living, either can be challenging. Trying to do both simultaneously can feel downright impossible. That’s where work-integrated degree programs can offer promising solutions—providing more affordable, inclusive education pathways to careers. This is particularly crucial in the digital technologies arena where Canada is coming up […]
September 26, 2022
News Article in Maclean’s
Digital ‘apprenticeships’ could solve Canada’s tech talent shortage
When corporate leaders in Canada were asked to name threats to business growth in a 2021 KPMG outlook poll, digital skills was identified as the top concern. Across every sector and size, Canadian businesses are unable to recruit and retain digital technology specialists who can help them keep pace with new and emerging IT solutions. […]
August 7, 2022
Op-ed by Jane Goodyer
in Toronto Star