This program is open to employers based in Nova Scotia and Canada's Atlantic provinces.

The EduNova Study and Stay™ Career Connect program helps Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada employers connect with highly skilled international students who are already studying, living, and building their careers in the province. Through short-term, 30-hour Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) projects, employers can engage motivated post-secondary students who bring diverse academic backgrounds, global perspectives and in-demand skills aligned with current labour-market needs.

Participating employers represent a wide range of sectors and are interested in advancing projects related to technology adoption, AI tools, digital transformation, health research, or other sector-specific challenges. These focused projects give businesses the opportunity to move priority initiatives forward, explore innovative ideas, and access fresh thinking - while contributing to the retention of skilled talent in Nova Scotia.

How it works

Participating students are enrolled at Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions and are matched one-to-one with employer projects based on skill alignment, academic background, and project needs. Each employer is assigned one student to their project, ensuring focused support, clear communication, and meaningful progress within the defined project timeline.

This targeted matching approach allows employers to work closely with a learner, achieve practical outcomes, and gain insight into a potential future hire - while providing the student with a valuable, hands-on learning experience in Nova Scotia’s workforce.

Program timeline:

• Learners assigned to projects: March 30, 2026
• Project period: April 6 – May 8, 2026

Participating by matching your project is a simple, low-risk way to tap into local talent, drive innovation, and help build a stronger workforce for Nova Scotia.

Employers can post practical, short-term projects designed to support business goals. Each project is scoped to 30 hours per student and may focus on solving a specific challenge, exploring a new idea, advancing a stalled initiative, or adding extra capacity to move work forward.

Every project must have a clear objective and deliver a useful, tangible outcome for your organization.

Projects are flexible and can be tailored to organizations of any size or industry. Employers may work with one student on a 30-hour project or be matched with two students who collaborate on different components of the work, providing up to 60 hours of total support. Based on your feedback in the match request, we will assign one or two students to your project.

If your project can help your organization make progress within a short timeframe, it is likely a strong fit for EduNova Study and Stay™ Career Connect - a program that connects employers with skilled learners eager to contribute and build their careers in Nova Scotia.