Co-operative Education

Co-operative Education integrates academic studies with paid periods of relevant work experience in industry, business, and government. Students alternate between terms of full-time study and full-time employment.

Co-operative Education faculty serve as the link between students, employers, and the instructional department responsible for the program. Co-operative Education Coordinators seek out appropriate employment opportunities and work closely with Faculty to ensure that the students' jobs are related as closely as possible to the program content.

Co-op Coordinators assist co-op students in all aspects of their job search including writing resumes and letters of application, developing job search strategies and preparing for interviews. They arrange interviews, finalize work placements, and carry out on-site visits providing an assessment of the job and the students' work.

Co-operative Education programs offer students many benefits.

• Students learn career development skills (e.g. resume writing, job interview techniques and employer expectations) in pre-employment preparation seminars called Working to Learn.
• Students gain valuable on-the-job experience, which can improve post-graduation employability.
• Students are able to test their career choices in the context of the work place.
• Students earn competitive entry-level wages which can help to offset educational costs.