With job seekers, graduate school applicants, and scholarship candidates increasingly using AI to write their applications, it’s becoming harder for students to stand out and clearly demonstrate the authenticity and value of their experiences.  

To support our students, the Centre for Experiential Learning (CEL) has launched the new Student Experience Record (SER) through our online platform, Experience Hub. The SER helps VIU students showcase their participation in hands-on, real-world activities such as internships, co-ops, research, community projects, and co-curricular involvement.  

The SER can add a layer of credibility to a student’s applications. In order for an activity to appear on a student’s record, it must be reviewed and validated by a VIU staff or faculty supervisor that oversaw the experience. This ensures that every entry reflects verified, meaningful engagement.  

The SER is also integrated with VIU’s Student Record System (SRS). All Work-integrated Learning (WIL) courses that are captured in our inventory are added to a student’s SER once they are completed, eliminating the need for manual entry and ensuring accuracy. This seamless synchronization helps students build their record in real time as they progress through their program. 

Students can also upload artifacts such as images, written reflections, presentations, and supporting documents to further demonstrate their learning and skill development. In this way, the SER functions as both an authenticated record and an e portfolio.  

Once published, students can share their SER on their resume, LinkedIn profile, or graduate school applications, allowing them to confidently highlight their transferable skills and experiential learning in a credible and compelling way.  

To learn more, please watch our short 3-minute video: What is the Student Experiential Record for Students.  

We hope you’ll help us spread the word about this valuable new tool and encourage students to take advantage of it.