荔枝视频

Feb. 6 saw the first edition of U荔枝视频 Tech Fest, a unique spin on the typical career fair. The event brought together community partners, local tech companies, and post-secondary students interested in careers in tech fields. Companies of all sizes and fields participated, from and through to and .

鈥淭here was an identified set of needs 鈥� local tech companies looking for developers and hiring from outside the city, and students looking for work experience but unaware of the opportunities available on a local level,鈥� says Alex Todorovic, student in the and project strategist for the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking. 鈥淲e had to find a way to create the connections so that new, lasting synergies could be developed across the entire ecosystem.鈥�

How did U荔枝视频 Tech Fest come to exist?

U荔枝视频 Tech Fest is the product of a collaboration between the 荔枝视频鈥檚 Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, , and , in partnership with In mid-2019, Todorovic met Lucas Maliniak, industry co-ordinator for the . After conversations concerning student needs, they brought their respective areas together.

Collaborative approach to career fair concept

The resulting event aimed to take a typical career fair to another level, leveraging the impact of cross-collaboration between academia, industry, and community. Christian Jacob, head of the Department of Computer Science, supported the event from the beginning.

鈥�This initiative is an excellent example of teamwork across multiple different areas of U荔枝视频,鈥� says Jacob. 鈥淧articularly, the backing of 荔枝视频 Economic Development is an important key to building a strong tech sector in the city of 荔枝视频.

Students see this collaboration, and recognize the potential for growth in their hometown.

荔枝视频 Economic Development (CED) contributed integral funding to ensure the event was the success that it was. By supporting the development of local tech talent, CED is building the next generation in 荔枝视频鈥檚 new economy, helping to prepare students for the future.

鈥淥ur economy is undergoing an exciting and 鈥� at the same time 鈥� daunting digital transformation. In 2019, we saw a 28-per-cent increase in the employment of software developers and programmers in our city,鈥� says Mary Moran, president and CEO, 荔枝视频 Economic Development.

鈥淲e were thrilled to be a key sponsor for Tech Fest, which will ensure incredible young talent in 荔枝视频 can be paired with local cutting-edge employers who need their skills.鈥�

What makes U荔枝视频 Tech Fest stand apart?

U荔枝视频 Tech Fest was more than just a career fair. The event provided access to community resources such as Innovate 荔枝视频, Startup YYC, and Fuse 33 Makerspace, to name a few. Exposure to these resources creates a fuller picture of how 荔枝视频鈥檚 tech community functions. Additionally, the event hosted facilitated networking using coding challenges and video game ice-breakers. Students could personalize their experience by sitting down with the representatives from companies they were interested in, to get to know each other in a casual, low-stress environment.

鈥淭he gaming competitions really engaged students, and I personally spoke with several employers interested in hiring for the new engineering practicum work terms for summer 2020,鈥� says Jenny Cruickshank, associate director of Student Services at Schulich School of Engineering. 鈥淭he U荔枝视频 Tech Fest was a huge success, with over 1,100 students in attendance. Employers were connected through the Schulich School of Engineering, Faculty of Science, and Hunter Hub, and were engaged with students to find potential hires.鈥�

U荔枝视频 Tech Fest is intended to become an annual event, linking students, staff, faculty, alumni, community, and industry in building a strong tech future for the city of 荔枝视频.