Calgary could potentially benefit from hosting week-long tech-related conferences and workshops specifically designed for international college students. Through our interviews with current stakeholders in the tech industry, we gained insight into the existing events organized for post-secondary students. These include Founder Fridays, Tech Sales Tuesdays, and MVP Mondays. However, the issue we pointed out was the lack of effort being put toward recruiting international participants for such events. If international students were to participate in such events, they would not only gain valuable knowledge and skills but also experience the thriving tech ecosystem and innovative companies within the city. This change would not only help Calgary attract young tech talent but also establish itself as a hub for tech innovation, contributing to the city's overall growth and development.
A Maymester program is a month-long study abroad program in which students take classes at a local university and have the option to also complete an internship, volunteer for organizations and explore the city they are living in. Canada is rarely found in American colleges’ semester-long study abroad programs because students perceive Canada as not international enough to feel abroad. And yet, upon graduation, working in Canada feels too international to be considered an option. By creating a partnership between US and Calgary universities, start-ups, and non-profit organizations, American students will receive a month-long exposure to the city of Calgary. Throughout that month, they can build a network in the city and recognize that Calgary doesn't feel very different from the US, making it a potential post-graduate option.
Before receiving our internship placement, we had never heard of Calgary. However, after our experience this summer, we believe the city has many wonderful assets that would be enticing to U.S. workers. When compared to other U.S. cities, it ranks better in many factors such as safety, transportation, and healthcare. To raise awareness about the City, Calgary could benefit from investing more in U.S. marketing. From billboards to social media, marketing Calgary will expose U.S. tech workers to an option that competes well with similar tech hubs in the U.S. Another way to market the city to the U.S. is through colleges. If colleges offer programs or internships in Calgary, students will be able to explore Calgary and potentially move there.
Calgary could collaborate with U.S. merit scholarship programs to create opportunities for students to work and gain experience in the city over the summer. By partnering with these programs, Calgary can tap into a pool of talented and ambitious students who have already demonstrated academic excellence and leadership qualities. Offering internships in various industries would allow these students to contribute their skills while experiencing Calgary's unique culture and lifestyle. This collaboration would not only provide valuable work experience for the students but also expose them to the city's thriving professional landscape, encouraging them to consider Calgary as a potential long-term destination for their careers.
Some US states, such as Alabama and Arkansas, provide financial incentives to attract talent to live and work in certain regions of the state. Calgary could benefit through a similar style of program. For example, Calgary tech start-ups could offer summer internships for 2 years to U.S. college students with the incentive that, upon successful completion, they will be guaranteed employment after graduation. Alternatively, the Calgary government could offer a financial incentive for US tech talent to work and live in Calgary due many to tech jobs becoming remote.
Through our research, we found that it is more logical for Calgary to attract an older age range of American tech talent. This is due to the increased expertise that comes from a worker spending a few years at a mature tech company in the US. Additionally, Calgary becomes more favorable to a tech worker around the age of 25-35 as Calgary is a safer and more affordable alternative in comparison to American tech hubs such as Atlanta and Austin. With this being said, many advantages come with bringing younger American tech talent to Calgary start-ups. For this atmosphere in specific, employment of less experienced workers is more affordable and, due to the phase of life the younger workers are in, they can dedicate more time to their job. It is also advantageous for the workers because when working for a start-up they will be given varying roles and tasks which will allow them to build a foundation of diverse skills. We would therefore recommend the city of Calgary conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether it is best to focus on attracting a younger or older age range of American tech talent.
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