On January 12, 2026, the School of the Environment hosted an inaugural Partner Recognition Event to celebrate their partner organizations’ commitment to working with and mentoring students. The ENV440: Professional Experience Course, one of the experiential learning courses offered by the School of the Environment, was taught last fall by Associate Professor Teresa Kramarz. As part of the course, students completed 70–80-hour placements with non-profit, public and private sector organizations, which were complemented by academic assignments and classes.
First taught in 2015, ENV440 gives students the opportunity to contribute meaningfully towards a variety of projects from conducting sustainability research, developing social media content, planning community events, and much more. As of Fall 2025, there have been a total of 87 organizations who have partnered with the course, offering 466 placements to students.
The Ontario Clean Air Alliance has partnered with the School of the Environment for 10 years and has hosted 18 students. The organization is working to move Ontario to a zero-carbon electricity grid by 2035 or sooner, and lower electricity bills, through an integrated combination of energy efficiency and demand management, cost-effective Made-in-Canada renewable energy, and energy storage.
“It’s important to invest in the next generation. And it always ends up being win-win,” saysAngela Bischoff, director at Ontario Clean Air Alliance. “Over the past 10 years students have organized, promoted and presented at public forums, created art for rallies, and produced great research for us. They’re consistently committed to a more ecological and just future.”
Another long-standing partnership is with Ontario Streams, a registered environmental charity dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of stream, river, and wetland habitats within Ontario. Over the past 10 years they have placed 15 students with a previous ENV440 student, Chloe Fortune now on staff. " While at Ontario Streams as a student, I gained not only valuable field experience completing various aquatic restoration techniques, but also knowledge about aquatic ecosystems,” says Fortune.
A partner for nine years, FoodShare Toronto has placed 55 students— the most placements hosted by any partner with the course so far. “The experiential learning program is rooted in strong, reciprocal partnerships across Toronto, engaging dedicated, enthusiastic students while nurturing the next generation of community food and environmental leaders,” says Senior Manager Orlando Gomez.
FoodShare also works with students in another Experiential Learning course, ENV421: Community Research for Social & Environmental Change taught by Michael Classens, as well as with the U of T chapter of Regenesis by supplying produce for the farmer’s market.
Experiential Learning offers students opportunities to learn through experience and understand how classroom ideas take shape in practical settings. It not only helps introduce students to professional settings—the first for many, but it also allows them to boost their confidence and start building their professional network. As for partners, students bring enthusiasm, new ideas and unique skillsets. It’s an example of reciprocity in action