How to hire an intern or co-op student? For businesses and nonprofits of all sizes.
Get tasks done, access talent, and shape the workforce of tomorrow.
What is Riipen?
Riipen is a platform that connects your business with talented learners through real-world projects.
Our flexible, scalable programs let you solve business challenges, access diverse talent, and identify potential future hires—while our Employer Success team provides hands-on guidance so you can focus on impact, not logistics.
Step 1
Sign up.
Create your company profile in minutes.
Step 2
Post project tasks.
Turn your real business challenge (or to-do list) into a Riipen project.
Step 3
Get matched.
Students are paired with your tasks through Riipen.
Step 4
Collaborate.
Work together on your business with short-term projects (hours depend on the program).
Step 5
Celebrate.
Integrate students' work into your business, help them build their Riipen portfolio, and share how their contributions create impact. Plus, identify potential future talent to strengthen your pipeline for upcoming opportunities.
You can use Riipen in three ways.
As an employer, you can engage with Riipen in one of three ways designed to tackle underemployment. With Riipen, you have the power to help students and learners build real-world skills by collaborating on micro-internship projects with your organization—making an impact while gaining fresh talent.
1
Academic programs.
Collaborate with postsecondary institutions by hosting micro-internship tasks that students complete as a course credit.
-p-500.webp){kind=logo}
+200
more schools
AI Innovation Project
St Frances Xavier University, Nova Scotia, CA
This experience is designed for students with a foundational understanding of machine learning, with applications in any domain. Focused projects in biomedical computation and health data analytics are also welcome. Participants will work in small teams or individually to apply their skills in coding and parallel computing to develop innovative AI solutions for real-world challenges in any domain, including in health care.
2
Student direct programs.
Work directly with motivated individuals looking to upskill or reskill through government-funded initiatives.
.png){kind=logo}
.png)
IT Cybersecurity Project
Western Governors University, Utah, USA
A co-curricular, project-based learning opportunity for students looking to connect with US-based employers to apply their technical skills in real-world settings. This is a valuable opportunity to support emerging tech talent and receive meaningful contributions from skilled learners ready to make an impact.
3
K–12 mentorship programs.
Support high school students (K–12) as they prepare for postsecondary education and future careers.
Full-stack development & AI
RoboGarden Alberta, CA
Funded by Level UP, this DigitalBoost program is designed for employers looking to collaborate with skilled student teams on real business challenges in full-stack development, machine learning, software development, data analysis, and AI.
Project Name
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
DELIVERABLES
Modernize internships.
Access to micro-internships
Access to flexibility
Don't take our word for it. See Riipen in action.
D Byers & Associates
Used by students from 700+ colleges and universities.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
%20copy.png)
Ready to get started?
Frequently asked questions.
How does Riipen differ from an internship?
Riipen is different from internship platforms and job boards in three main respects: 1) nearly all projects are virtual; 2) student's work is project-based; and 3) usually, the learner's work is part of an academic program. Most activities are also team-based rather than individual. With that said, some Riipen projects will entail 100+ hours of student effort and can provide learners with a similar level of experience to internship programs. Search "virtual internship" in our Course Library to see some examples of these.
What kind of work can students do?
The best way to get a sense of this is to browse the Riipen Courses to see what opportunities are available. Learners on Riipen have worked on wide-ranging projects, including web design, simulation modelling, data mining, market research, graphic design, financial analysis, and many more. Project areas are driven by academic requirements, and there will always be a learning component for learners in addition to the value to your business.
How do I find the right work-based learning experience?
The success of an internship program largely depends on communicating your objectives and business needs, so make sure you spend some extra time creating a clear description of your project to find interns in no time.
Fortunately, Riipen provides employers with pre-built templates to help them get started while providing free access to over 164,000 students and 700 educational institutions.
Related resources.
Visit our Help Center for step-by-step guides, FAQs, and support resources to help you navigate Riipen’s platform and maximize your employer experience.
Explore our Resource Center for insights, success stories, and best practices detailing how real-world projects can drive talent development and business impact.
Discover how to use the Riipen platform to post projects, collaborate with students, and streamline real-world work experiences that benefit your business and talent pipeline.
