SIA FELLOWSHIP & RAILYARD ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

An education in social impact that complements whatever you're learning, wherever you're learning.

Our virtual Fellowship is designed to meet you where you are.

This year, SIA and Railyard Lab are teaming up to deliver the Fellowship Program.

As an SIA or Railyard Academy Fellow, you'll participate in:

Training Modules

You’ll be trained on skills that are relevant to social innovation. Curated by the HSBC Social Innovation Academy and Railyard Lab, and designed with leading industry partners, you will leave the Fellowship feeling confident with your leadership and technical skills.

Some areas we will cover include:

Research

Design

Finance

Research

SIA Fellows will specialize in Research skills.

Impact measurement (SROI, CBA, IRIS+)
Market research (customer discovery, product-market fit)
Research methodologies (ethics, qualitative and quantitative design)

Design

Railyard Academy Fellows will specialize in Design skills.

Design thinking and approaches
Brand and visual design
Service and product design

Finance

All Fellows will also get exposure to Finance skills, curated by our partner National Social Value Fund.

Investment models (social value investing, venture capital, philanthropy)
Financial and quantitative modelling
Investment mechanisms and vehicles for social innovation

Challenges

You’ll work on hands-on projects with a team of multi-disciplinary Fellows. Canadian social enterprises, non-profits, impact funds will issue Challenges that they are facing. You’ll get real-life experience working with leading organizations in Canada.

Past Challenges include:

Impact Measurement

Client: Senior support social enterprise
2019

Cost Benefit Analysis

A cost-benefit analysis framework measuring the extent of social isolation and loneliness in nursing homes.

Marketing Strategy

Client: Clean energy investment platform
2020

Targeting and Positioning

A strategy that identifies target markets for clean energy investments and key tactics for engaging the populations.

Personal & Professional Development

We value a holistic approach to growth and learning. You’ll be part of a national community of like-minded peers, while receiving individualized support from the SIA team.

Community Building

Personal Development

Build Your Network

Community Building

Virtual socials with SIA and Railyard Fellows across Canada
Research methodologies (ethics, qualitative and quantitative design)

Personal Development

Mindfulness and meditation support
Career planning and development

Build Your Network

Personalized mentorship from SIA and Railyard alumni
Meet industry professionals through one-on-one chats and speaker series

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SIA AND RAILYARD ACADEMY FELLOWSHIPS?

Both SIA and Railyard Academy Fellows will undergo the same core training modules, and work on Challenges with social enterprises. In the latter half of the Fellowship, SIA Fellows will focus on developing their research skills, while Railyard Academy Fellows will focus on design skills. Each group will undergo specific training modules focused on their respective skills. That being said, SIA Fellows are able to take design training modules and vice versa! Please ensure you apply for the appropriate Fellowship using the application form buttons below. You are allowed to apply for only one Fellowship.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RAILYARD

AT A GLANCE

Location: Anywhere in Canada
Commitment: 5-10 hours per week
Dates: September 28, 2020 - March 26, 2021
Program fee: $0

ELIGIBILITY

You are between the ages of 18-30. If you do not fit this criteria and feel strongly about joining the program, please send an email to hello@socialinnovationacademy.ca to discuss eligibility.
You can be living or studying anywhere in Canada. The program is open to all Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students with Canadian study permits. If you are living elsewhere, due to Covid-19, and otherwise would be living in Canada, you are also eligible to participate.
You can be studying, working, or pursuing any initiatives - there is no education (university or college) requirements needed to apply.
You are legally able to work in Canada.

HOW IT WORKS

1 | Submit an application

Submit your application using the links below by Wednesday, September 16 at 11:59pm PT.

2 | Invitation to interview

We want to better understand what drives you and how the Fellowship can help.

3 | Welcome to the Fellowship!

We'll introduce our 2020-21 SIA and Railyard Academy Fellowship Cohort late September/early October.

4 | Core training modules

All SIA and Railyard Academy Fellows will participate in several core training modules.

5 | Work on Challenges

You'll also work with real-life social purpose organizations to put your skills to use.

6 | Specialize in your interest area

Fellows have the choice to take industry-curated training modules focused on research, finance, and design. You'll also receive specialized personal development support.

7 | Analyst Program

Fellows are given priority access to summer analyst positions that places students across the country in social innovation internships.

APPLY NOW

Interested? Join us by applying here. You may apply to only one of the Fellowship Programs! We have extended the deadline to Wednesday, September 16 at 11:59pm PT.

Note: as part of the application is uploading your completed case study, Google Forms requires that you have a Google account in order to access the form. Before submitting the Google application form, you can view all questions and edit your responses:

The HSBC Social Innovation Academy and Railyard Lab are equal opportunity organizations committed to building and fostering a fair and inclusive community that values diversity and encourages respect for all. We welcome applicants across any race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, Indigenous status, or any other legally-protected factors. We recognize the value of identifying and removing barriers for any applicants interested in participating in our programs. Please contact us at hello@socialinnovationacademy.ca to start a conversation about different accommodations available.

"The Social Innovation Academy has been an extraordinary opportunity for me! As someone who has no experience in finance, I have not only learned so much about impact investment but also to leverage my humanities and social justice background to be an asset in the field. The Challenge sprints have also been a great way to apply our learning and it’s always rewarding to know that our work will be used on the ground.”

"SIA's holistic approach has not only provided me the training to grasp key social impact concepts, but it has also given me the opportunity to work with clients to create solutions for growing global concerns. Coming from a health-science background, I am grateful to be able to learn about business and impact evaluation, and also put that into application.”

"I came into SIA in the pursuit of new skills and learning experiences, as well as a platform to contribute to a socially oriented cause; however, SIA has gifted me with so much more. It is an organization where I am surrounded by mentors that truly care about the growth of the organization’s Fellows; there has been a considerable effort put into nurturing us into reflective and socially and emotionally competent individuals.”

An education in social impact that complements whatever you're learning, wherever you're learning.

This year, SIA and Railyard Lab are teaming up to deliver the Fellowship Program.

As an SIA or Railyard Academy Fellow, you'll participate in:

Training Modules