TECHNATION and theScore Hit a HomeRun with START
MISSISSAUGA, ON (October 24, 2023) – TECHNATION, Canada’s leading national tech industry association, and theScore, a technology leader and pioneer in digital sports media and gaming, today announced the launch of START (Student Tech Advancement and Readiness Training), a new Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program to aid the professional development of co-op students during their placement with theScore. The START program kicked off in September and supports more than 35 post-secondary student interns for a work experience.
theScore’s Co-Op program provides students real-world work experience across a variety of departments, including:
TECHNATION’s LaunchPad will be used to support theScore’s Co-Op students with eLearning modules that provide practical and relevant tools and resources for enhanced WIL-experiences. TECHNATION LaunchPad focuses on accelerating onboarding for WIL-program participants and provides Information and Communications Technology (ICT) based training.
“Combining emerging tech and sports as a career path could not get any more exciting! The opportunity that our Career Ready Program provides in partnership with theScore, will provide many students with a dream come true career path,” said Angela Mondou, President and CEO, TECHNATION. “Canada’s future tech leaders are today’s students so Career Ready connects talent to opportunity investing in skilling initiatives that ensure we are providing pathways to exciting jobs in Canada’s tech sector. Programs like START with theScore will certainly go a long way to bridging Canada’s talent gap and we look forward to building more bespoke tech career initiatives with others.”
“We’re excited to partner with TECHNATION and launch the START program to further support our early talent development initiatives,” said Jimmy Tristovski, Vice President of Talent Acquisition and People Operations, theScore. “START aims to provide important resources to aid the professional development of our Co-Op employees, particularly in the highly competitive product and engineering fields. We look forward to building this program and helping our employees thrive as they begin their career journeys.”
Launched in 2017, TECHNATION’s Career Ready Program supports businesses through financing students for limited work terms. To date, TECHNATION has provided over $100 million to Canadian businesses and non-profits across Canada through the Career Ready Program, and more than 20,000 students and over 7,000 employer partners have benefitted from student work terms. Almost one third of these organizations have used the Career Ready Program more than once.
About TECHNATION
TECHNATION is the industry-government nexus for technology prosperity in Canada. As a member-driven, not-for-profit, TECHNATION unites Canada’s technology sector, governments, and communities to enable technology prosperity in Canada. TECHNATION champions technology prosperity by providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities across industry and governments at all levels; connecting Canadian scale-ups with global tech leaders; engaging the global supply chain; and filling the technology talent pipeline.
TECHNATION has served as the authoritative national voice of the $242 billion ICT industry for over 60 years. More than 45,000 Canadian ICT firms create and supply goods and services that contribute to a more productive, competitive, and innovative society. The ICT sector generates more than 717,590 jobs and invests $10.3 billion annually in R&D, more than any other private sector performer. TECHNATION was formerly the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC). For more information: www.technationcanada.ca
About the TECHNATION Career Ready Program
The Career Ready Program aims to attract students from underrepresented groups, including women in STEM, Indigenous students, newcomers to Canada and individuals with disabilities. The Career Ready Program is available to students currently enrolled in studies at a post-secondary level. Employers interested in participating in the program may qualify if they provide a meaningful and encouraging work opportunity in a range of tech-immersive roles. This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).
About theScore
theScore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PENN Entertainment , empowers millions of sports fans through its digital media and sports betting products. Its media app ‘theScore’ is one of the most popular in North America, delivering fans highly personalized live scores, news, stats, and betting information from their favorite teams, leagues, and players. theScore’s sports betting app ‘theScore Bet Sportsbook & Casino’ delivers an immersive and holistic mobile sports betting and iCasino experience. theScore Bet is currently live in the Company’s home province of Ontario. theScore also creates and distributes innovative digital content through its web, social and esports platforms.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Coombs
Cell: 416-729-8550 or scoombs@technationcanada.ca