Industry Sponsored Student Projects

Industry Sponsored Student Project (ISSP) program is a three-way partnership between the sponsoring organizations, the students and the institution.

Here is a typical timeline and role description in an ISSP project:

Prior to a project term:

• Sponsors submit project proposals online
• BCIT reviews the proposals and puts suitable projects in the selection pool

First week of the project term:

• Students select projects and contact sponsors to start the process
• Sponsors provide the students detailed project information, confirm objectives, scope and performance criteria, as well as make available the necessary resources/access to work on the project
• BCIT assigns a faculty supervisor to each project to help students with project management

During the project term

• Sponsors and students work closely and meet regularly (in-person or online)
• Sponsors and supervisors provide feedback and guidance

End of the project term

• Students deliver/install final project for the sponsors
• Sponsors join in evaluation and grading (often includes a project presentation on campus)

Before you submit a project, please read the following information and the frequently asked questions page, or check out the Intro Video to decide whether your project is suitable for the program.

Commitment of time and resources from sponsoring organizations is essential for a successful project. A dedicated contact person from the sponsoring organization is expected to provide direction and feedback to the students throughout the project term. This contact person should meet with the students initially at term start, and subsequently at least once a week, in person or online*. While this contact person does not need to have technical knowledge, s/he should have well-defined project business objectives and performance criteria.

During the project term, students work at BCIT and are not required to co-locate with their clients. The sponsors do not need to find workspace for the students.

* For the intensive 5-week project term in April/May, sponsors are expected to work and communicate with the students on a daily basis – for up to an hour a day.

• DevOps
• Networking
• Web Development
• Mobile Development
• Scripting/IT
• Games
• AR/VR
• Machine Learning/Algorithms/Research
• Other

Suitable computing projects can include problem-solving, proof-of-concept, engineering, or research and development. Projects from any industry are welcome for consideration.

The most appropriate project proposals are those that:

• Are well defined with appropriate scope and achievable goals (See “How do I know if my project is appropriately scoped?” in the frequently asked questions)
• Offer enough challenge to be rewarding and an opportunity to apply knowledge already acquired from studies. For student skills and knowledge, see the following program matrixes:

  Full-Stack Web Development (FSWD) Diploma
  Computer Systems Technology (CST) Diploma
  Computer Information Technology (CIT) Diploma
  Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science

• Demonstrate your interest and ability to provide sufficient technical knowledge (or technical support) to work with the students

Since there is NO GUARANTEE on the success or when/if a project is selected, mission-critical or time-sensitive projects are usually not suitable.

There are a variety of project durations and timing options depending on the programs the students are in.

Final-year diploma students work in teams of four or five over a 13-week period starting in September and January terms.

Students carry out the project on a part-time basis, parallel with ongoing coursework. Each student team is required to dedicate 400 hours of work to the project.

There are also teams of final-term diploma students who undertake four-week, full-time projects in April and May each year.

Programs’ scope

Computer Systems Technology (CST): suitable projects can be designing and implementing a:

• Web Application using a framework such as React and Angular with a programming language such as Node js, Python, Java, PHP and GO.
• Mobile Application for Android and iOS using a framework such as Flutter, react Native.
• Scalable Cloud Application with public cloud providers such as AWS and Azure.
• Web and mobile game.

Computer Information Technology (CIT): suitable projects are related to DevOps, Scripting, Cloud Integration, Machine Learning, and Web Development. Technologies: Python, Node, AWS, Azure, Bash.

Systems Software Developer (SSD): suitable projects could include web or mobile projects with a database backend. Technologies could include ASP.NET, Laravel, Node, ReactNative, Ionic, iOS, or Android with Kotlin.

Full Stack Web Development (FSWD): web development projects.

To participate in BCIT’s Industry Sponsored Student Project (ISSP) program, I agree to the following sponsor commitments:

• I understand that the ISSPs are worked on by students who are learning as they go, and are not professional consultants. Therefore, a complete deliverable is not guaranteed.
• If the students select my project, I will be available on a weekly basis during the project term to work with the students and provide information, feedback, and guidance.
• Pay a $500 Participation Fee to BCIT – an invoice will be generated if your project is selected. (This fee will be waived for not-for-profits and charities.)
• Upon completion of the project, I will do my best to attend the project presentation and provide an assessment of student performance.
• According to BCIT’s Intellectual Property Policy, students in the ISSP, or any student project, own the IP they create. If this is an issue, I agree to use BCIT’s Standard Non-Disclosure and Intellectual Property Agreement, which must be completed at the beginning of the project term. (BCIT can provide a copy of this agreement for your review if you require it.)

Contact us if you would like to explore:

• Working with and supporting more than one student team on this same proposed project, if multiple teams are available.
• Scoping my project into multiple phases to work with students over multiple terms.

While the students do not get paid for the execution of the projects, there is a $500 (+tax) Participation Fee for each selected project. An invoice will be sent to the sponsor of each selected project for this fee. In the event that multiple projects by the same sponsor are selected, or a project is worked on over multiple terms, a charge of $500 will be applied per project, per term.

Fees will be waived for projects done for charity or not-for-profit organizations (a Charity organization registration number or official NPO status will be required).

You may be able to partner with BCIT to get research and development grants.

Companies with R&D projects may be eligible to receive 66% of the total project costs from the NSERC Alliance Grants.

• Minimum project size: $20,000 annually
• Maximum project size: $1,000,000 annually
• Project duration: 1-5 years
• Funding decision: 4-8 weeks

More details, or contact Dr. Michal Aibin to discuss R&D projects.

Industry student projects are part of the learning process. Although it is in the students’ best interest to succeed, and many student projects have been completed successfully, there is no guarantee that all projects undertaken will be successful. If a sponsor is not satisfied with the deliverables, the project can be resubmitted for the next term.

Additionally, as the ISSP program is sometimes oversubscribed, there is no guarantee that a project will be selected. Non-selected projects will be kept in the pool for future terms.

According to BCIT’s Intellectual Property Policy, creators (i.e. students in an ISSP project) are owners of the Intellectual Property. BCIT does not require students to enter/sign any Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), or sign away the IP in the ISSP program. However, if the sponsors require so, they should indicate it in the project submission form, and during the first meeting with the students. BCIT provides a standard Student Practicum Confidentiality Intellectual Property Agreement [WORD]. If students disagree with the Agreement, they have the option to select another project.

In general, the Confidentiality Intellectual Property Agreement should:

• Allow the students to present their work to faculty, sponsor and other students in a final presentation
• Allow the students to include their work in their portfolio
• Not exclude the students from employment in any industry

The submission form contains the necessary information for a project proposal.