X--Degree Programs

Co-operative Education Programs

Co-operative Education formally integrates the student's academic study with work experience in co-operating employer organizations. The usual plan is for the student to alternate periods of study with periods of work in appropriate fields of business, industry, government, social services or the professions. Students are engaged in productive work in jobs developed and/or approved by the institution as suitable learning situations. Progress on the job is monitored by the institution and is supervised and evaluated by both the employer and the institution. Co-operative Education is intended to provide students with the practical knowledge of their discipline and to assist them in making more precise career decisions as a result of the frequent and extensive exposure to the work environment.

Through continuing contact with supervisors and fellow workers, and through work performance evaluations, on the job visits and return to campus interviews, Co-op students become increasingly aware of their strengths and weaknesses in their personal characteristics. Practical communication skills are enhanced through the medium of work reports which are intended to accentuate awareness of real life situations and responsibilities. Also, a greater degree of financial independence may be realized, and the possibility of a wider variety of permanent employment opportunities exists. Co-operative Education Services is primarily responsible for administering the work semester aspects of Co-operative Education programs. This involves marketing the concept of Co-operative Education to potential employees, identifying appropriate jobs, and organizing the on campus employer interview system. Co-op field co-ordinators contact students on the job site, and along with the On-Campus co-ordinator provide a wide range of counselling and career development services.

Co-operative Education formally integrates the student's academic study with work experience in co-operating employer organizations. The usual plan is for the student to alternate periods of study with periods of work in appropriate fields of business, industry, government, social services or the professions. Students are engaged in productive work in jobs developed and/or approved by the institution as suitable learning situations. Progress on the job is monitored by the institution and is supervised and evaluated by both the employer and the institution. Co-operative Education is intended to provide students with the practical knowledge of their discipline and to assist them in making more precise career decisions as a result of the frequent and extensive exposure to the work environment.

Through continuing contact with supervisors and fellow workers, and through work performance evaluations, on the job visits and return to campus interviews, Co-op students become increasingly aware of their strengths and weaknesses in their personal characteristics. Practical communication skills are enhanced through the medium of work reports which are intended to accentuate awareness of real life situations and responsibilities. Also, a greater degree of financial independence may be realized, and the possibility of a wider variety of permanent employment opportunities exists. The Career Services Unit of the Counselling and Student Resource Centre is primarily responsible for administering the work semester aspects of Co-operative Education programs. This involves marketing the concept of Co-operative Education to potential employees, identifying appropriate jobs, and organizing the on campus employer interview system. Work Study field co-ordinators normally contact each student on the job site, and these same coordinators, and others from the Counselling and Student Resource Centre provide a wide range of counselling and career development services.