Explore how Riipen is helping build AI fluency through real-world learning. Discover the latest news, insights, and platform updates.

Building AI fluency through

real-world learning.

Riipen is partnering with Education Design Lab, with support from Google.org, to help four community colleges prepare students for an AI-transformed workforce.

Through the AI + Durable Skills Work-Based Learning Design Challenge, participating colleges will create employer-connected experiences that build AI fluency alongside problem-solving, creativity, communication, and collaboration.

AI readiness takes more than technical skills.

As AI reshapes roles across industries, students need opportunities to understand emerging tools while strengthening the human capabilities employers increasingly value and seek.

Participating colleges will work directly with employers to define what AI fluency looks like within their programs and communities, then translate those insights into authentic, applied learning experiences.

From employer insight to

real-world application.

Students will complete employer-designed projects on Riipen’s platform, applying AI to real-world use cases and receiving direct feedback from industry partners.

The Community College of Aurora, Hudson County Community College, East Arkansas Community College, and Roxbury Community College will help develop models and resources that can support institutions beyond the initial challenge.

Because preparing students for an AI-transformed workforce means building both AI fluency and durable skills.

Shaping futures: Work-based learning news & insights.

Exploring the latest stories, trends, and ideas

shaping the future of experiential learning.

Watch Riipen Co-Founder and CEO Dana Stephenson address the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance and outline a practical recommendation for Canada’s AI economy—using work-integrated learning to help SMEs adopt AI and digital tools while creating paid, real-world opportunities for Canadian talent.

Watch Dana's address.

New research from eCampusOntario examines what it will take to make work-integrated learning more accessible, effective, and scalable. From uneven SME participation and administrative friction to the need for more flexible, right-sized models, the report highlights practical approaches institutions and employers can use to strengthen the path from learning to the labour market.

Read the report.

In a recent webinar, we explored what it takes for employers to move from scattered AI experimentation to intentional action. AI readiness starts with a clear business problem, safe boundaries, and a structured way to test, learn, and scale—helping organizations identify where AI can create real value and turn exploration into practical progress.

Explore the webinar replay.

Turn your work into career proof.

Completed a Riipen project? Share what you worked on, learned, and accomplished. Selected stories will be featured by Riipen, giving you something meaningful to share with future employers.

Give your accomplishments the visibility they deserve.

Riipen's reading list.

Resources for academia, employers, and learners on real-world experience, career readiness, and practical next steps.

Institutions looking to make career readiness a more consistent part of the student experience can use curriculum-embedded internships to connect coursework with real employer needs. This guide explores how the model supports applied learning, stronger industry relationships, and more equitable access to meaningful experience before graduation.

Explore the guide.

Small businesses do not need a large marketing budget to build visibility and attract customers. This article shares practical ways to make limited resources go further through local partnerships, referrals, media outreach, digital channels, and other creative tactics that can generate momentum without overspending.

Discover the strategies.

Students and recent graduates can strengthen their applications by showing not only what they have done, but what they can contribute. This guide offers practical ways to stand out, from navigating applicant tracking systems and highlighting transferable skills to building a portfolio and using real-world experience as proof of one's capabilities.

Read the tips.

Take the first step in your

Riipen journey.

Complete a short, guided employer project, earn Lab Certification, and leave with concrete examples to showcase on your resume.

Enhancing your experience:
Platform updates.

Discover some of our latest improvements and enhancements designed to help you get the most out of Riipen.

Keep conversations moving without losing your place.

Learners can now message from almost anywhere on the platform thanks to a new persistent chat drawer and pop-out windows. That means you can keep conversations going with employers and educators while continuing to browse projects, review opportunities, or complete other tasks without interrupting your workflow.

Catch disengaged learners sooner.

Educators can now automatically flag learners who haven't submitted a work log within a chosen timeframe of 1 to 30 days. Flagged learners appear with a clear badge in the Team Tracker, making it easier to identify who may need support before a small issue becomes a bigger challenge.

Avoid surprises when accepting applications.

Employers will now see a clear warning before accepting an application if doing so would exceed their learner or team limits for a match. The warning also identifies any pending applications that would be automatically declined, giving employers the information they need to make confident decisions before confirming.

318K+

work-based learning experiences

53K+

vetted network of employers

760+

 postsecondary institutions

20.9M+

hours of applied learning