Black Youth for Social Innovation Program
Overview
The Black Youth for Social Innovation (BYSI) Program at the University of Alberta promotes professional development of Black youth by offering comprehensive, paid work-integrated learning experiences and mentorship in each student’s field of interest. In particular, the program is designed to address the disparity in opportunities available to Black students within the Social Sciences and Humanities, including Arts, Business, Education and Law. The BYSI program helps participants develop the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their future careers but additionally, it contributes to a more diverse and inclusive academic community at the University of Alberta.
Benefits
There are a number of benefits to participating in the BYSI program. The BYSI program helps participants build essential skills for academic and industry settings and offers pathways to career opportunities. For instance, program participants may benefit from expert mentorship with experienced professionals in Social Sciences and Humanities. Participants will also be able to engage in networking opportunities that can enhance their professional networks and build community connections.
Application Information
- Students who are interested in the BYSI program as well as College of Social Sciences and Humanities faculty members or external organizations who are interested in getting involved with the program should explore the webpage to learn more.
- For more information and updates, check out the BYSI LinkedIn page!
Contact
Contact bysi@ualberta.ca for more information.
Program Details
Work-Integrated Learning
- Internship
Eligibility Requirements
- The BYSI Program is available to undergraduate students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, with a specific focus of recruiting Black students.
- There are a few different pathways through which students can get involved with the BYSI program. Students who are interested in the BYSI program and have a specific research project or idea in mind can apply through the Undergraduate Research Initiative office. Alternatively, students can apply to be a research assistant with a faculty member in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, or apply through an external organization.
- For more information about the various application pathways or if you are a faculty member or external organization who is interested in partnering with the BYSI Program to mentor a student or host an internship, please contact bysi@ualberta.ca.
Recognition + Compensation
- The BYSI Program is an extracurricular experience for which students do not receive academic credit.
- It is a paid, 4-month internship program.
- Following the completion of their program experience, students are welcome to stay on with BYSI as volunteer “alumni” to assist with facilitating BYSI experiences for others.
Duration, Format + Location
- BYSI Internship experiences are 4 months in duration, occurring from May to August.
- The format will depend on the partner organization, however, for students who are working directly with the BYSI program, it is best to be available both in-person (on campus) and remotely, if needed.