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WACAC 2014 Conference San Jose. June 11, 2014. Co-operative Education in Canada & the United States. Stephanie Ranslow, Northeastern University Tony Munro, University of Waterloo. Outline. Experiential learning co-operative education Co-operative education vs. internships - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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WACAC 2014 ConferenceSan Jose
June 11, 2014
Co-operative Education in Canada & the United States
Stephanie Ranslow, Northeastern University
Tony Munro, University of Waterloo
Outline
Experiential learning co-operative education
Co-operative education vs. internships
Basics of co-operative education
How it works?
Benefits of co-operative education to academic institution
Benefits of co-operative education to students
Why experiential education is important
Growing focus on ‘outcomes’ in education Accountability Education as an investment
Establish connection between academic learning and work application
Learning by doing
Unfamiliar situations = new learning
Informed career decision-making
Co-op vs. Internships Co-op
clearly defined, full-time positions away from the classroom, with specific learning outcomes
the experience integrated into the curriculum.
Internships often Ill-defined, unpaid, part-time may be during academic semester may or may not be related to major or interest lack of integration into the academic experience usually no longer than three months
Co-op basics
Employment integrated into the academics Multiple work terms Test career options Head start on the job market
Exploration/preparation prior + Reflection/integration after
Students need to be responsible for decision making (competitive process) with significant resources to help them
Opportunity to establish contacts and develop your professional network
Graduates are ‘work-place ready’
History and evolution of co-op at Northeastern
1909 Earn to Learn Combine work with school in order to pay the bills Co-op program begins with just eight students working for
four Boston employers
1980’s National Growth 37 States Across the Country Concentrations in: New York City, Washington D.C., and
the West Coast, including San Diego and Silicon Valley
1980’s International Co-ops offered “Handful” of students participate
Now 7200 Students participate yearly in Co-op 300 Students participate yearly in International Co-op
Co-operative Education structure
Preparation Complete mandatory Co-op Prep course Participate in advising sessions with Co-op Faculty Coordinator Navigate Employer Database Search, sort, and select co-op positions based on major,
interests, skills Build preference list of positions and submit job preferences to
co-op coordinators Track placement process, interview, accept position
Calendar Consists of alternating periods of academic study with periods
of substantive full-time employment Promotes integrated learning and application of concepts
Sample 5 year co-op schedule
Fall Semester(Sept. to Dec.)
Spring Semester(Jan. to Apr.)
Summer Session I(May to June)
Summer Session II (Jul. to Aug.)
Year 1CLASS CLASS VACATION VACATION
Year 2CLASS CO-OP CO-OP CLASS
Year 3CLASS CO-OP CO-OP CLASS
Year 4CLASS CO-OP CO-OP VACATION
Year 5CLASS CLASS
Sample 4 year co-op schedule
Fall Semester(Sept. to Dec.)
Spring Semester(Jan. to Apr.)
Summer Session I(May to June)
Summer Session II (Jul. to Aug.)
Year 1CLASS CLASS CLASS VACATION
Year 2CLASS CO-OP CO-OP CLASS
Year 3CLASS CO-OP CO-OP CLASS
Year 4CLASS CLASS
Sample employers
Co-operative education at Waterloo
5 or 6 four-month work terms completed in alternating sequence with academic terms
Centrally administered through Co-operative Education and Career Action department (125+ staff) Job development Online recruitment process On-campus interviews Career development workshops Student Advising on campus and on work term Employer relationship management
WatPD: online professional development program focused on enhancing connection between the workplace, the academic courses and eventual career path
Geographically distributed staff maintain local contacts
Integration of work experience and academic learning at Waterloo Work term performance evaluation WatPD courses (4 course requirement)
Common threads through all courses: Critical Reflection, Professionalism, Technology,
Continuous Learning, Diversity, Ethics, Collaboration
Completed online while on work terms (one course/term)
Co-op Fundamentals* Critical Reflection and Report Writing*
Communication Teamwork
Project Management Problem Solving
Conflict Resolution Intercultural Skills
Ethical Decision Making Professionalism and Ethics in the Workplace
Engineering Workplace Skills I: Developing Reasoned Conclusions*
Engineering Workplace Skills II: Developing Effective Plans*
Benefits of co-op education to the university
Enhanced reputation among employers Leaders of tomorrow Experienced graduates Entrepreneurial mindset Innovation
Attracts career-focused and motivated students
Promotes research linkages & innovation Encourages relevant course content Lower debt loads among graduating students
Outcomes of co-op education for students
Opportunity to ‘test’ potential careers Networking with potential employers and
mentors Professional and personal development Informed academic & career choices Increased motivation Earnings while still in school
Manage debt load Enhanced employability upon graduation
Earlier job offers & higher starting salaries
Perspectives Student: The connections you make with employers can help
you move closer to the goals you already have, OR they can help you realize that you should rethink your career plans. Mohammed, Ghana
Employer: Our co-op students are able to adapt to geographic changes, relocation challenges, and corporate cultures. The co-op program enables GE to monitor Northeastern’s students for future employment. Kristen Picano, GE Distribution
Northeastern: We believe in experiential learning because it deepens a student’s knowledge and learning. The result may very well be employment or graduate school, but those do not drive our belief in the power of this educational model. The learning that happens does… Dr. Susan Ambrose, Senior Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
& Experiential Learning.
Career Success and Co-opNORTHEASTERN: Ranked #1 by Princeton Review in Career
Services On average, more than 51% of students
receive a job offer from a previous co-op employer
More than 90% of our graduates are either employed or enrolled in graduate school nine months after graduation
87% of these graduates are doing work related to their major