From the Nominator

"At the close of 2020, securing skilled labour became critical for University of Calgary communications. Months of COVID lockdown, whispers of the “great resignation,” and cuts to post-secondary institutions made recruitment and retention efforts harder than ever before. As the second largest employer in Calgary, we needed to develop new recruitment and retention methods to ensure the ongoing success of our communications system.   

The solution came by helping our best and brightest graduates begin two-year term positions with us. Through the Communications Specialist Program, UCalgary established a learning integrated work experience, offering professional development, best practices, and mentorship to the next generation of communicators. Junior specialists learned on the job and built up portfolios while the university benefited from an infusion of new employees eager to assist on our biggest initiatives.   

At the close of the two-year pilot, 90 per cent of all junior specialists brought on in 2021 have been successfully hired into communications roles, with 70 per cent accepting jobs on campus. Internal team satisfaction scores are on the rise while relationships across university communications teams have strengthened thanks to access to an in-house, fully trained talent pool ready to step into vacant roles as they become available.  

The Communications Specialist Program is establishing UCalgary as the best place to grow communications careers."

From the Judges

Judges loved the "learning integrated work experience" and appreciated the level of detail put forth in this initiative. Supporting materials were standout and judges shared this model could be replicated at other schools.