1. What is NetCorps Canada International?

2. What does it cost and who's paying?

3. What are the key objectives of the program?

4. How is the program implemented?

5. Is the coalition open to new members?

6. What kind of work will interns do?

7. Is formal training, technical experience or a specialized degree in Information Technology required?

8. How do youth apply?

9. How much are interns paid?

10. When will interns leave on assignments?

11. What internship placements are currently available?

12. Is there a link with the Connecting Canadians Strategy?

13. Why is Industry Canada involved in an international youth program?

14. How does this program relate to previous NetCorps projects such as the one announced by the Prime Minister at the Summit of the Americas in Chile in April, 1998?

1. What is NetCorps Canada International?

With funding channeled through Industry Canada, and managed by the NetCorps coalition secretariat, NetCorps is a Youth Employment Strategy program that offers exciting information and communications technologies internships of approximately six months in developing countries. Over 1000 positions will be filled by March 31, 2004, in Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa. The program will include countries that are members of la Francophonie and the Commonwealth.

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2. What does it cost and who's paying?

The program is funded at $4.6 million per year under the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy.

3. What are the key objectives of the program?

• To contribute to the domestic and international transfer of knowledge, expertise and dissemination of best-practices on the innovative uses of ICT.

• To enhance the ICT capacity of international host organizations, leading them to recognize Canada as a leader in ICT integration

• To provide Canadian youth with advanced experience and capabilities related to the integration of ICT, thereby making them highly-qualified, competitive, responsive and adaptable in the knowledge-based economy.

luxury reservations Hamburg4. How is the program implemented?

In partnership with Industry Canada, the program is implemented by a coalition of some of Canada's largest international development agencies that send volunteers abroad. The NetCorps Coalition includes: Canada World Youth (lead), Alternatives, CUSO, OXFAM-Qubec, VSO Canada, Canadian Crossroads International, Canadian Society for International Health and Human Rights Internet. The Coalition is responsible for recruiting, placement identification, field support, as well as re-integration and employment counselling upon return to Canada. To access funds for NetCorps interns, an organization must be a member of the NetCorps coalition.

5. Is the coalition open to new members?

Industry Canada and the NetCorps coalition have established criteria for organizations to join the coalition and thereby be eligible to send interns. Criteria is posted in section 'Volunteer Sending Agencies', under 'Get Involved'. New members will then be eligible to submit project proposals by mid October 1999 in order to send interns between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2001.

6. What kind of work will interns do?

Every NetCorps assignment is different, as are the partners and locations. Tasks may range from establishing Internet connections, preparing manuals and documentation, and designing and providing skills development to creating websites, developing databases, networking workstations and setting up and configuring hardware.

7. Is formal training, technical experience or a specialized degree in Information Technology required? 

No, not necessarily. Even though a number of placements require a high level of technical knowledge, others are much less technically oriented and require a broader set of skills: teaching/facilitation skills, second language knowledge and adaptability are few examples. There are as many candidates applying from a technical background as those as from a social sciences/humanities background, with or without a degree. In general, interns should be comfortable using information technology, particularly computers, and be able to transfer their knowledge. See alsoeligibility criteria.

8. How do youth apply?

To be eligible, you must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant between the ages of 19 and 30, be unemployed orunderemployed, and with the appropriate information and communication technologies skills. Other standard requirements for international internships are set by the NetCorps Canada International coalition. To apply, go to the How Do I Apply section of this website, and follow the directions.

9. How much are interns paid?

The program covers travel and accommodation expenses, and offers a modest living allowance. Upon return to Canada, interns are offered employment counselling.

alberghi a Anversa10. When will interns leave on assignments?

The next departures will take place in April 2002 with frequent departures untilFall 2002. Generally, applicants will be selected two to three months before departure dates

11. What internship placements are currently available?

12. Is there a link with the Connecting Canadians Strategy?

Yes. Interns will showcase Canadian expertise, meeting the Strategy's goal of promoting a connected Canada to the world. Prior to departure, interns will be oriented in and equipped with Canadian developed software applications related to Connecting Canadians programs. The interns will learn how to use the software for community and economic development purposes, helping countries to develop their information technology infrastructure for learning and economic purposes, modelled on Industry Canada programs such as SchoolNet, Community Access Program and VolNet.

13. Why is Industry Canada involved in an international youth program?

NetCorps Canada International is a global extension of the various domestic youth employment programs related to the Internet run by Industry Canada, including NetCorps Canada – the youth employment component of the Community Access Program. Industry Canada is also drawing on the expertise of other organizations that work in this field through an advisory committee that provides Industry Canada with strategic direction on the program, consisting of the Canadian International Development Agency, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the International Development Research Centre, Human Resources Development Canada, the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

14. How does this program relate to previous NetCorps projects such as the one announced by the Prime Minister at the Summit of the Americas in Chile in April, 1998?

This program builds on the experience of previous NetCorps "pilot" projects that involved 56 interns, the coalition, the Canadian International Development Agency, the International Development Research Centre and University College of Cape Breton. Interns, international development agencies and partners in host countries were delighted with the results of all phases of NetCorps, from the perspective of intern contributions in host countries and the enhancement of intern skills and careers.

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Last modified 2003-11-04

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