New Funding Available for CIVDEM 4ED6 Student Placements

Are you interested in building a stronger democracy? You can now get course credit and $1500 in remuneration for a new Work-Integrated Learning initiative.

Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada) will support up to 36 students who enrol in CIVDEM 4ED6 and complete Work-Integrated Learning this Summer & Fall/Winter. Eligible students receive remuneration of $1,500 to support WIL activities. Students work with a community-based organization to apply their disciplinary knowledge to a democracy-related challenge identified by the organization.

How do I apply?:

There are two steps to apply:

1. Complete the Application on Google Forms

2. Enrol in CIVDEM/POLSCI  4ED6 A/B – Partnered Learning in Elections and Democracy for Fall/Winter term 2025-26.

Updated: The deadline for consideration is September 10th, 2025.

What is CIVDEM@Mac?

CIVDEM@Mac partners with organizations that help strengthen democracy and civic engagement, while giving students experience conducting original research and gaining insights into public advocacy and career paths in this sector. CIVDEM offers an Interdisciplinary CIVDEM Minor and a range of co-curricular and experiential learning opportunities such as field trips, guest speakers and other special events. In 2025, CIVDEM worked directly with Elections Ontario and Elections Canada to organize on-campus polling locations and linked over 200 students to paid employment as poll workers.

What is Work-Integrated Learning?

Work-integrated Learning (WIL) is a model and process of experiential education which formally and intentionally integrates a student’s academic studies with learning in a workplace or practice setting.  WIL occurs at the course or program level and includes the development of learning outcomes related to employability, personal agency, and life-long learning. CEWIL Canada partners with post-secondary institutions, community members, employers, government, and students to champion work-integrated learning.

What’s expected?

Students complete 100 hours of work-integrated learning, which includes ~35 hours (online) during Summer, plus continued engagement through Fall/Winter aligned with CIVDEM 4ED6 – Partnered Research in Elections & Democracy. Students receive direct remuneration supporting their participation in WIL activities, conditional on continued enrolment in the course.

Over the Fall/Winter terms, you undertake course work, participate in field trips and other experiential learning activities with a range of CIVDEM@Mac partner and collaborative organizations. The main WIL activity is a partnered research project. Working in interdisciplinary teams, you will be matched with a partner organization based on interests and skills. Over the Summer, you complete online skills modules and Service Learning with the partner. Over Fall/Winter you will develop and execute all stages of an original research project based on continued partner consultation and deliver your Final Report to the partner in April.

CIVDEM partners include the Samara Centre for Democracy, Apathy is Boring, Vote16 Canada, Circle of Beads, CIVIX Canada, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, among others. For example, the research partnership with Circle of Beads aims to increase Indigenous participation and representation within Hamilton’s municipal governance. Students who work with this partner will gain close-up understanding of Indigenous and other stakeholders’ perspectives, and the practical and procedural challenges of building support and implementing change on this issue.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for this CEWIL opportunity and receive the funding as remuneration, you must enrol in CIVDEM/POLSCI  4ED6 A/B – Partnered Learning in Elections and Democracy.

Applicants receiving funding must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals with refugee status. Unfortunately, due to CEWIL funding constraints, the funded component is not able to accept those on student visas at this time.

Whether you are eligible/apply for the CEWIL opportunity does not impact student eligibility to take the course. All students in the course will complete a partnered research project and have experiential learning opportunities.

Where Can I Learn More?

For further information, contact polisci@mcmaster.ca

Updates

This story was edited on July 11th to reflect the updated deadline for application of Friday, July 18th, 2025, and in September to reflect the new deadlien of September 10th.