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Cooperative Education
Cooperative
Education is a great way to get hands-on experience in a work environment. This
program combines academic learning with valuable work experience in a field of
study.
The co-op program is available at
the secondary school and post secondary school level. Therefore it offered in
high schools, colleges, career colleges and universities.
CO-OP
IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
In high school, the cooperative
education course includes a classroom component, as well as a work placement component.
Students earn cooperative education credits by integrating classroom theory with
learning experiences in the community. Work placements provide high school students
with the opportunity to practice and refine the skills necessary in the world
of work. It is a great way of getting valuable work experience while still earning
a high school diploma!
The Ontario Ministry of
Education offers a detailed description of the cooperative education program for
secondary schools. You can view a copy of the document by clicking on, Policies
and Procedures for Ontario Secondary Schools, 2000.
CO-OP IN POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Co-op programs are also
available in university and college programs. There are some differences in the
cooperative education program at the post-secondary level.
WHAT’S INVOLVED
IN THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE LEVEL?
According to the Canadian
Association for Cooperative Education (CAFCE). , a Co-operative Education
Program is a program that formally integrates a student's academic studies with
work experience in co-operative employer organizations. The usual plan is for
the student to alternate periods of experience in appropriate fields of business,
industry, government, social services and the professions according to the following
criteria:
- Each work situation is
developed and/or approved by the co-operative educational institution as a suitable
learning situation.
- The co-operative education
student is engaged in productive work rather than merely observing.
- The co-operative education
student receives remuneration for the work performed.
- The co-operative education
student's progress on the job is monitored by the co-operative education institution.
- The co-operative education
student's performance on the job is supervised and evaluated by the student's
employer.
- The time spent in periods
of work experience must be at least thirty percent of the time spent in academic
study.
NEED
SOME HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS?
The CAFCE has useful information about the benefits of co-op, tips and techniques,
and student ethics. CLICK HERE
DO ALL UNIVERSITIES
AND COLLEGES OFFER COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS?
The majority of Canadian universities, colleges and career colleges offer
co-op programs in various fields of study.
To find out more information
about co-op programs at a specific college or university, go directly to the school
website. CLICK
HERE to use the Mazemaster Canadian
college and university directory.
JUST A REMINDER
Just a few things to keep in mind
about cooperative education programs:
- The majority of co-op programs
at the secondary and post-secondary school level do involve a screening process.
You may have to fill out an application and/or have an interview.
- In most cases, you can apply to
the co-op program only if the university or college has already accepted you.
- Co-op programs are NOT available
in all university and college programs, so it’s important to do research
ahead of time
- Be aware that many co-op programs
have strict standards regarding maintaining academic performance, absenteeism
and rules of conduct.
- In some programs, co-op is mandatory
and therefore students are admitted in to co-op when they accept an offer of admission
at the university or college.
- If you need information or have
any specific questions about the co-op program, be sure to speak to someone in
the co-op department at your school.
HELPFUL LINKS
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