By Candice Zhang

Many students were in the process of securing an internship placement in the past winter and summer semesters, but after the pandemic hit, some faced the inevitable. Companies that provided students with internship opportunities informed the college that they were closing their internship opportunities. As a result, some students were left in the middle of the semester without any internship position.

Michelle Walc, the field education coordinator for the school of fashion and jewellery, said that she has experienced this scenario more than once.

“A group of students in the fashion management program were out on their placements,” Walc said. “Once the lockdown hit, none of those employers can continue [working] with the students as they were doing hands-on projects.”

The store closures have led multiple field placement coordinators within the college to act immediately. Teachers only had a week to re-adjust their respective programs and courses.

“The pandemic changed how we teach our students,” said Patty Hayes, a professor for the social service worker program. “Second-year students were supposed to be out [for an internship] from September to April. However, the field placement portion is being delayed until January based on [George Brown College’s] recommendations.”

When students in the  Social Service Worker program participate in their field education placements, they will have the option to choose between remote, traditional, and hybrid positions. The hybrid position is a combination of both the online and physical experience.

Although the current public health restrictions indicate that remote placements are the safest option, Walc and Hayes both emphasize the importance of having face-to-face positions within their specialized industries.

“In social service work, there are some services you have to deliver face-to-face,” said Hayes. “You can’t run a homeless shelter or a food bank remotely.”

“Some students don’t want to be cooped up in their house anymore,” said Walc. “Some people are still interested in going into the field and the ones who have decided on physical placements, are safe and following restrictions.”

The choice of physical work may seem daunting and risky for many students and instructors at the moment. However, field coordinators are trying to ensure that the placements meet the public health standards and prepare students for their future jobs.

“Social service workers are often working in physically demanding environments,” said Hayes. “Even if the pandemic had not occurred, social service workers would still have to work in the midst of flu outbreaks. If students decide this is what they want to do, we make sure their placements set the standard.”

Even though physical work is still important for a student’s experience, instructors are continuously embracing change for remote learning. Coordinators who have delayed the field placement portion are now trying to create opportunities for students by establishing new courses.

“We are offering an Advanced Preparation course to prepare students for their upcoming field placements,” said Hayes. “More topics will be covered, and students will hopefully be certified in some positions that we never had time for.”

Obtaining a position throughout the pandemic may be a different process for students and coordinators alike, but not all hope is lost. Instructors are confident that students will have the ability to learn a new skill and find a passion to fulfill their experiences. Many emphasize that opportunities will always be there, despite the nature of the economy.

“Students who have done field placements over the summer have gained a lot of skills that agencies need,” said Hayes. “They have helped agencies with their branding materials and were content about their experiences.”

“A lot of employers want to ask if the student can help out with social media and brand awareness,” said Walc. “There are so many valuable skills that the students are learning by taking on remote internships, and opportunities will always be there regardless of the event.”