About

What is Virginia TOP?

The Virginia Chamber Foundation & the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia are partnering to form the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership, or Virginia TOP for short.

Only 10% of students take advantage of work-based learning opportunities. 70% of employers want college graduates to have relevant work-based learning experience. Greater connectivity between students, higher ed, and employers is needed in Virginia to better support the readiness of our business community. Virginia TOP seeks to create and better streamline those connections.


How is Virginia TOP funded?

Virginia TOP is funded through the Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program. The purpose of the Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program is to:

  • Expand paid and credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration with Virginia employers
  • Facilitate the readiness of students, employers, and institutions of higher education to participate in internship and work-based learning.


What’s next?

The Virginia Talent and Opportunity Partnership will continue to work collaboratively with institutions, students, and employers to increase connectivity through the development of readiness resources and innovative engagement solutions. Stay up to date on the latest activities by following us on social media and checking back frequently for additional information and resources.

In the near future, Virginia TOP will be launching a variety of resources for employers, students, parents, and higher ed, including an Employer Toolkit to assist employers in launching a work-based learning program.

Partners

Chamber Foundation Logo

The Virginia Chamber Foundation tracks Virginia’s economic competitiveness, conducts research and analysis, and hosts programs connected to the priorities of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Five-Year Plan Blueprint Virginia 2025 – among them higher ed and work-based learning.
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SCHEV Logo

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is the Commonwealth’s coordinating body for higher ed. Its mission is to advocate and promote the development of Virginia’s higher ed system in the Commonwealth of Virginia and to lead state-level strategic planning and policy development and implementation.
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