co-operative education students looking at computer

Why get involved?

Studying and going to class is an important part of being a student, but there is so much more you can gain from your time at university!

Engaging in experiential opportunities will allow you to...

  • Expand and deepen your academic learning
  • Gain real-world experience that can help you reach your career goals
  • Develop practical skills, self-confidence, and self-knowledge
  • Explore your role in creating more equitable and sustainable communities
  • Meet new people, develop social networks, and make friends!

Did you know? There are 700+ opportunities recognized on the UM Experience Record!

  • Raghad, a third-year student, smiling at the camera
  • "Participating in experiential learning opportunities has allowed me to demonstrate what I am learning in both my academic and personal life. I am now able to think creatively in challenging situations and I have learned to listen more than I speak; such skills are difficult to acquire without practice.”

    – Raghad, Third year student

Ways to get involved

It can be overwhelming to figure out where to start when you want to get involved. Here are some tools you can use to find out which experience is the right fit for you!

Browse the Experience Catalogue in UMConnect

The Experience Catalogue is a one-stop shop for all University of Manitoba Experiential Learning courses, programs, and partnerships.

Search for opportunities by opening UMConnect and clicking on the Experience Catalogue. You can use keywords or search by experience type to learn about hundreds of opportunities on and off campus.

For help navigating the Experience Catalogue, stop by the Student Experience and Development in 225 UMSU University Centre (open Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM), reach out to involvement@umanitoba.ca, or book an appointment with a Peer Involvement Advisor (see below).

Talk to a Peer Involvement Advisor

Peer Involvement Advisors (PIAs) are fellow students who are trained to help you figure out which experience is right for you based on your personal interests, goals, and needs.

Appointments are available by booking or during drop-in hours are the Student Experience and Development Office (225 UMSU University Centre).

Find out how to book an appointment with a PIA!

Meet with a Career Consultant

Looking to gain experience to support your career planning or employability? Experiential Learning is a great way to help connect your interests to career opportunities and develop career-related skills.

To learn more about how Experiential Learning can help you in your career, connect with the Career Services team.

Experience Record

The Experience Record is a document that summarizes a student's participation and involvement in activities that support holistic development, inside and outside of the classroom.

  • Why develop your Experience Record?

    Your Experience Record is an excellent tool for...

    • Capturing the experiences you have participated in and allowing you to reflect on the skills and knowledge you have gained.
    • Allowing you to be intentional about gaining diverse experiences that will help set you up for success in your future career.
    • Creating a formal record of your participation that can be used to support your academic pursuits like scholarship applications and graduate/professional program applications
    • Assisting with resume building and interview preparation, since it contains a detailed record of your experiences.

    For more information on how to use your Experience Record when looking for a job, get in touch with UM Career Services.