3.2 Course Design and SILEx
Signature Innovative Learning Experiences (SIlEx)
SILEx provides rich, experiential learning opportunities for Fanshawe Students. The five learning experiences include:
Applied Research:
Individual students or teams demonstrate their research skills within the program curriculum through an applied research project with an external partner. The project will provide value to an external client and may involve students from more than one program, but applied research within a vocational area is its defining feature.
Entrepreneurship:
Within the program curriculum, students or student teams demonstrate their learning related to entrepreneurship, small business development/management or intrapreneurship. As part of the experience, students might access programs, workshops and activities facilitated by LEAP Junction and community organizations that support new businesses.
Global projects:
Within the program curriculum, individual students or student teams work with a Canadian or international organization to address a global problem or opportunity. Students demonstrate their learning in a vocational area and deliver value to the external partner. Students may work with students at other domestic or international institutions, but the global focus of the project is its defining feature.
Live client interactions:
Within the program curriculum, students interact with external partners to demonstrate their learning in a vocational area. Live client interactions may be in the form of a project or a placement and may include feedback from external parties, but both the project and the placement must be evaluated by a faculty member.
Multi-disciplinary projects:
Within the program curriculum, individual students or teams from more than one program collaborate on a project to demonstrate their learning in a vocational area. Multi-disciplinary projects may involve only Fanshawe students or students from other post-secondary institutions, either through face-to-face or virtual collaboration. The project may provide value to an external client, but the multi-disciplinary nature of the project is its defining feature.
SILEx and Job Skills for the Future. ©Fanshawe College
The Community Consultancy course seamlessly integrates into Fanshawe College’s SILEx principles, making it a comprehensive experiential learning opportunity for students. Through live client projects and applied research, students will use their marketing expertise to serve the needs of local businesses and organizations, thus contributing positively to the community. As a capstone type of course, it provides students with practical experiences that enhance their employability and professional growth.
By combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications, the course prepares students to be job-ready and equipped with the skills necessary for successful careers in marketing. Thus bridging the gap between academia and the professional world.
Community Partner Testimonial
“It was a mutually rewarding experience for TMML to be involved in Fanshawe College’s Community Consultants program. The program is an excellent opportunity for the Student Consultants to be actively involved in the daily business activities, rewards and challenges they will face in their business careers. The student’s enthusiasm, professionalism, commitment and final recommendations presented in the business case assigned to them were outstanding and most importantly, useful for our organization”.
Steve F. McCann, Director of Sales & Marketing
Trudell Medical Marketing Limited
