Professional Internship

Employer Partner

This page aims to provide comprehensive information about the work experience program offered by Seneca Polytechnic to our students, tailored for our valued industry partners

Know More About Our

Professional Internship

Our Professional Internship is a mandatory requirement for our students to complete 220 hours of paid work experience, allowing them to utilize the knowledge and skills they acquired in their program in an on-the-job setting. It is a flexible educational program that combines employment experience with academic study.

Our students are responsible for securing a job position in any of the Hospitality and Tourism sectors, which in turn provides paid work experience that enhances academic progress and increases employability.

  • 🏨 Accommodations

    ⛺ Adventure and Recreation

    🎡 Attractions

    🎉 Events and Conferences

    🍔 Food and Beverage

    🌐 Tourism Services

    🚗 Transportation

    ✈️ Travel Trade

  • Our Professional Internship Program is offered every semester of the academic year with the following schedule:

    Fall Term: September to December

    Winter Term: January to April

    Summer Term: May to August

    Click Here to See Seneca’s Important Dates

  • Students in this Professional Internship program have successfully completed their TRV299 - Professional Internship Preparation course, where they have acquired essential employability skills.

Professional Internship Employer Guidelines

Welcome to Seneca Tourism's Professional Internship Program

Thank you very much for your interest in sharing your knowledge and expertise with the next generation of Travel and Tourism industry professionals.

As an employer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the careers of job-ready students by providing them with hands-on experience and invaluable mentorship. Our program follows comprehensive guidelines, ensuring a mutually beneficial experience for hosts and students.

Being an employer host in our program will give you an opportunity to connect with our students and graduates through various networking events and help shape the future of our lucrative and exciting industry.

The Professional Internship Employer Guidelines below have been developed to provide you with comprehensive information and guidance on hosting our students. These guidelines outline the expectations, responsibilities, and benefits of being a placement host.

By adhering to these guidelines, you will help create a positive and meaningful learning experience for our students while benefiting from their contributions and fresh perspectives.

  • To proceed with the Professional Internship program and take advantage of these benefits, we kindly request that you complete the Employer Agreement Form presented to you by our student. Once completed, please submit it to our student who is responsible for uploading your completed form.

  • We offer free assistance on job postings on our job board. Please reach out to camille.bayarcal@senecacollege.ca for more details.

  • Students are required to complete 220 hours within the semester to earn credit for their Professional Internship. These hours are normally completed in a four-month period, consisting of 16 to 20 hours of work per week.

    Work schedules can be flexible and completed within the semester at their discretion, subject to agreement with their supervisor.

    Hours for their Internship must not interfere with the student's ability to attend other Seneca courses or programs.

    The student may not leave a position prior to completion unless there is prior approval from the Professor and the Employer. Failure to do so will result in the student losing the Internship credit.

  • Professional Internship employers are required to provide paystubs to students according to provincial guidelines.

    These paystubs will serve as documentation of the hours worked by the student for your company. Students will submit these paystubs as assignments, and these paystubs will be used to accurately track the number of hours they have worked during their Professional Internship.

  • Students must be supervised - directly or indirectly. Indirect supervision can mean that the trainer does not have day-to-day, direct contact with the student during their Professional Internship. The supervisor must ensure providing guidance and support to the student during their externship, fostering a positive learning environment.

  • At the start of their program, our students are required to sign and complete the Professional Internship Responsibility Agreement with Seneca Polytechnic. This agreement ensures that they understand their responsibilities and the objectives of the program and commit to completing their placement with professionalism and dedication.

  • Regular attendance, punctuality and reliability are vital components of the Professional Internship program.

    It is the responsibility of the student to notify the employer immediately if they are going to be absent from work. Other than for extreme emergencies or serious illness, regular attendance must be maintained.

  • During the Internship, students are not entitled to a vacation. Vacation pay is included in the student's salary. Under exceptional circumstances, the student may request a vacation prior to the start of employment.

    This must be approved in advance by the Professor and the employer.

  • The employer has the right to dismiss the student for just cause. The student must notify the Professor immediately when dismissed from the Internship. The circumstances surrounding the termination will be reviewed with the student, employer, and Professor.

  • The student is evaluated at the end of the Professional Internship period through your evaluation of the student’s performance.

    The field placement coordinator or professor will connect with you towards the end of the placement, to provide you with the appropriate evaluation forms.

  • To assess student progress and performance, our team may aim to visit the student and supervisor at their place of employment whenever possible.

    During these site visits, a site visit report is completed by the professor, employer, and student.

  • You can always connect with us and we are open to discussing the student’s progress. Your suggestions and opinions are always appreciated.

    Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the Professional Internship team:

    Tourism Program Coordinator and Professor:

    Catherine Griffith-Mills, BSc, CTC, WPICC

    catherine.griffith-mills@senecacollege.ca

    Field Placement Assistant:

    Camille Bayarcal

    camille.bayarcal@senecacollege.ca