Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

• Who to Contact
• The Opportunity
• The Benefits
• The Practicum Process
• Additional Information

Who to Contact
Adrian Faraguna, Practicum Coordinator/Instructor
SAIT Polytechnic
School of Construction
1301-16 Ave N.W. - Room NN211, Senator Burns Building
Calgary, AB  T2M 0L4
Phone: (403)210-5609
Email: Adrian.Faraguna@sait.ca

The Opportunity
What you need are people with the right combination of cutting edge knowledge and practical experience. People with the skills and diplomacy to ease comfortably into your organization. People with the talent to help your business make inroads into the new economy.

SAIT students have a wide variety of backgrounds including:

Approximately 80% – 90% of our students hold undergraduate degrees. The minimum entrance requirement for the Bachelor of Applied Technology - GIS program is two years post-secondary education.

The Benefits
This practicum offers you the opportunity to:

• Have first access to some of the best and brightest in the field of Geographic Information Science;
• Effectively evaluate potential permanent employees;
• Save on recruitment costs, while improving employee retention; and
• Maintain your competitive advantage by recruiting talented professionals with real world, hands-on experience.

The Practicum Process

Company/Organization Details

•  The practicum is 960 hours in length.

 This length is flexible to meet the employer's and student's needs.

•  The position must be paid as mandated by Alberta Learning.

 There is no minimum rate of pay.

 Currently, pay ranges from $12.50/hr to $27.00/hr.

•  The SAIT Practicum Coordinator helps facilitate the selection process and will conduct interviews if requested by the company or organization

Company/Organization Commitments

 Submit a Letter of Offer as proof that the student has been provided a practicum placement.

•  Submit a Practicum Sponsor Statement of Student Hours at the end of the practicum validating how many hours the student has completed (see the attached form).
•  Submit an evaluation of the student's work using the Practicum Sponsor Student Evaluation (see attached form).
•  Participate (unless there are exceptional distance restrictions), in one site visit between the student's direct supervisor and the Applied GIS Practicum Coordinator, during which the student's work and progress are discussed (approximately 45 minutes)

Practicum Availability & Contact

•  Students are available:

Part-time - January
Full-time -  May
Ongoing basis

• All practicum students are available for full-time employment after their practicum position has ended (they do not need to return to classes).
• Contact the BGIS Practicum Coordinator to set up a practicum position posting or to answer any questions you may have.

Additional Information
For additional information on the Bachelor of Applied Technology – GIS, please feel free to visit the BGIS section of the SAIT.ca website.

Or contact the Practicum Coordinator: Adrian Faraguna