Supporting career development through a virtual community of practice

Exploring how a virtual community can support career development, networking, and career decision-making for students

Erin Gilbart, School of Health & Life Sciences

About the project

This study examined the effectiveness of a community of inquiry and practice model designed to support career development for students in Conestoga’s health care administration and service management program. Hosted through Microsoft Teams, the virtual community provided opportunities for networking, resource sharing, and collaboration with support from faculty and Conestoga’s Talent Hub team.

The challenge

Students navigating career decisions often benefit from access to professional networks, peer support, and career resources. The project sought to understand whether a virtual community could help strengthen career confidence and support informed career planning.

Approach

• Created a virtual community of practice using Microsoft Teams
• Facilitated networking, resource sharing, and collaborative problem-solving activities
• Connected students with faculty and Talent Hub supports
• Collected survey data to assess career decision-making confidence and learning experiences
• Evaluated student perceptions of community-based career support

Results

• Demonstrated positive student perceptions of a community-based approach to career development
• Identified preferences for career resources and support services
• Generated insights to inform future Talent Hub programming and curriculum development
• Established a foundation for further exploration of virtual career support models
• Contributed valuable lessons regarding student engagement in changing policy environments

Why it matters

This project highlights the potential of virtual communities to support student career development and engagement. The findings help:

• Inform future career development programming and services
• Enhance opportunities for peer learning and professional networking
• Support innovative approaches to career education
• Improve understanding of student career support needs
• Contribute to ongoing research on student engagement and career readiness

This project draws on research supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.