Experiential Learning Advisor, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Job Summary
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports the education of economically disadvantaged African students and refugees/displaced individuals who can help to lead this reform, potentially changing the course of history for Africa.

The Experiential Learning Advisor, is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs that support career, entrepreneurial, professional, leadership, and community-based learning for Mastercard Foundation Scholars at the University of British Columbia. This includes developing and implementing strategies to increase Africa-based internship opportunities and a mentorship program that connects Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni to career mentors. The Advisor is also responsible for supporting and coordinating programs, services, and projects which advance and sustain strong connections to graduates of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC as alumni. The Advisor works strategically with campus partners, for example the UBC Careers Centre, Student Development and Leadership, and the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL), to leverage existing resources and relationships, broaden the approach to career and experiential learning across multiple career building experiences and to foster leadership and professional skills development. The Advisor builds and maintains relationships with internship placement partners across multiple industries, countries, and disciplines to expand professional opportunities for Mastercard Foundation Scholars. The Advisor maintains accurate and current knowledge of best practices in experiential and career education and works closely with Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program staff and UBC units in activities such as developing program and learning objectives, designing and delivering educational programming, developing critical reflection activities, and providing advising supports to Scholars.

Organizational Status
The Experiential Learning Advisor reports to and work under the direction of the Program Manager, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The Experiential Learning Advisor operates in strategic partnership with staff of the UBC Careers Centre, Student Development and Leadership, and the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL).

Work Performed

The Experiential Learning Advisor uses in-depth knowledge and understanding of student engagement, experiential education practices, and career and professional development to design, deliver, and evaluate programs that support the professional and career development of Mastercard Foundation Scholars at UBC.

• Foster student leadership through the delivery of complex advising, coaching and educational programs and services on career development topics, including: career exploration, gaining work and volunteer experience, resumes, CVs, job interviews, networking, professional skills development, mentoring and connecting to the workplace community.
• Advise Scholars on the suitability of internship options in consideration of their academic program focus and career/learning goals.
• Educate scholars on best practices and tools in searching for data related to employment, occupational trends and career information.
• Employ extensive knowledge and active use of relevant job-hunting sites, such as LinkedIn, to support student’s exploratory process of finding an internship.
• Develop and/or adapt existing processes that help students plan their participation in experiential learning opportunities, including internships on the continent of Africa, and critically reflect on their learning from these experiences and plan for the future.
• Create learning goals and outcomes around safety, wellness and intercultural competencies in order to support students prior, during and post internship both locally and in Africa.
• Maintain rigorous documentation of Scholars experiential learning opportunities, including partner and discipline-specific information, health insurance, and work visa requirements.
• Coach scholars on leadership and involvement opportunities throughout the course of their degree.
• Independently or in collaboration with the Program Advisor, may assist students in crisis and/or facing complex situations including cultural transition, mental health, family emergencies, accessing health care and insurance, and refer as appropriate.

• Build and develop new and ongoing relationships with potential internship and employer partners in Africa and Canada, to support Mastercard Foundation scholars in their search for employment opportunities on the continent of Africa. This involves a high level of intercultural competence and an ability to both find and create new relationships as well as maintain and sustain existing relationships.
• Conduct both international and local site visits to assess the needs of internship partner organizations, the suitability for student placements and the ability of the placements to positively impact the Scholar’s experiential learning. Apply understanding of the pedagogical value, theoretical and practical issues involved in international learning placements.
• Develop and implement a professional mentorship program for Scholars. Recruit and match mentors and mentees, design materials and coordinate workshops and training sessions. Take part in the UBC Tri Mentoring community of practice and the Mastercard Foundation Community of Practice.
• Maintain and build relationships with African and Canadian employers and other members of workplace community for potential mentorship opportunities and to build resources and programs to support Scholar career development and learning. Keep stakeholders informed of upcoming events, programs, and student recruitment opportunities.
• Develop and maintain cross-campus partnerships with Faculty and Staff to support linking initiatives across campus, and across community partners to facilitate internship and experiential learning opportunities.
• Build and maintain opportunities for Scholars to connect with and learn from members of workplace community through site visits and informational interviews.
  
  
• Design, implement and evaluate tools, resources, and co-curricular workshops intended to prepare and build capacity of Mastercard Foundation scholars for internship, leadership and experiential learning opportunities both locally and in Africa. Work in collaboration with multiple stakeholders to set project goals, timelines, scope, processes, manage communication among project participants, identify obstacles, track timelines, evaluate outcomes and prepare and disseminate reports.
• Monitor and mitigate risks associated with internships and experiential learning activities and ensure Scholars receive appropriate training and orientation. Document and report on risks as necessary.
• Assess and evaluate current career, professional, leadership and community-based learning programs offered to Mastercard Foundation scholars and re-design current programs to better serve the needs of scholars, UBC, and the Mastercard Foundation. Share findings and resources to inform learning of other career and experiential learning colleagues across campus and within the Mastercard Foundation Community of Practice.
• Establish learning objectives and assess learning outcomes through the delivered co-curricular programs.
• Facilitate assessment and evaluation tools for internship placement partners/stakeholders and provides ongoing communication with all stakeholders regarding the logistical and learning program elements.
• Ensure that information about the program is current and appropriately positioned to the different audiences providing experiential learning opportunities, including faculty and staff at UBC, community organizations, as well as current and potential partner placements.
• Liaise with UBC staff, faculty, Mastercard Foundation, and internship placements on behalf of students.
• Participate in on-going knowledge sharing and professional development with other stakeholders across campus.
  
  
• Work closely with the Program Manager and Alumni UBC to develop strategic plans, in collaboration with Faculty and University partners, to leverage alumni and community engagement.
• Design, implement, and evaluate alumni outreach activities through identification and development of relationships with potential new employers, alumni, and organizations.
• Identify and build connections with key individual alumni, to further program goals.
• Identify opportunities with strategic internal and external communities to build relationships of institutional value and engage high-level alumni to advance those relationships within their respective communities.
  
  
• Expand networking opportunities for scholars through strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Establish appropriate expectations and trouble-shoot concerns as related to students on placements using a high degree of sensitivity, intercultural competence and conflict resolution skills.
• Advise students faced with difficult, complex situations with a high level of discretion and diplomacy.
• Develop and deliver co-curricular and career-related programs using strong public speaking, learning design and facilitation skills.
• Build scholars individual capacities and confidence to overcome employment barriers and strategize on how to market themselves effectively to potential employers through strong coaching skills.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Failure to meet programming and service targets can jeopardize the Mastercard Foundation Program gift and endanger the ability of future Mastercard Foundation Scholars to study at UBC. This can also compromise UBC s ability to secure major gifts in the future. Failure to fully support the Mastercard Foundation Scholars can have a devastating impact on UBC s ability to recruit and retain African students and damage UBC s international reputation. Must exercise tact and diplomacy when interacting with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders including: UBC staff, faculty, students, alumni, internship partners and community organizations. Lack of intercultural sensitivity, tact and diplomacy in handling students personal situations, including crisis management, may result in significant distress for students and an inability for them to reach their study and career goals. Must be attentive to risk management in all situations. Must be aware of the perceived and actual sensitivity of programs and initiatives. Ineffective management of experiential learning opportunities can adversely affect the reputation of the Department and the University.

Supervision Received
The incumbent reports to the Program Director, Global Campus Initiatives and provides regular updates on activities. The incumbent works with considerable autonomy and work is reviewed based on the achievement of specific goals and objectives. The incumbent must exercise initiative and sound judgment in making decision, planning and executing services and programs. Receives professional guidance from the UBC Careers Centre, Student Development and Leadership, and the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL), and works collaboratively with other career education, community-based education and student leadership staff within Vice President, Students portfolio and within the Faculties.

Supervision Given
May hire, train and supervise support staff, student assistants and/or volunteers.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three to four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Must have a deep understanding of the experiences of scholars from the African Continent.
• Ability to advise and instruct students on career and professional development topics such as career and major exploration; reflective learning practices; articulation of knowledge, skills, and experience; resumes, cover letters, CV, interviews; networking; and labour market information.
• Experience in designing, delivering and evaluating educational programs and events based on learning outcomes for students related to career, professional, leadership or community-based learning.
• Demonstrated experience in advising students around contexts and experiences outside the University.
• Experience working with community-based organizations an asset.
• Experience leading and participating in projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with social media as a networking tool is an asset.
• International work experience an asset.
• Certification in MBTI, True Colours, StrengthsFinder, or other human capital assessment tools is an asset.
• Some evening and weekend work required.
• Must be able to accommodate flexible hours to attend events, deliver workshops, or provide training on evenings and weekends.
• Excellent cross-cultural sensitivity and intercultural communication skills.
• Excellent critical thinking, analytical, and interpersonal skills. Exceptional presentation and public speaking skills. Excellent judgment and decision-making skills to allow the assessment of needs, available resources and capabilities to resolve issues. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Ability to work effectively in teams, take initiative and to develop effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, employers and other community members.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own. Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

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