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
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.) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Spring Semester (Jan. to Apr.)
Summer Session I (May to June)
Summer Session II (Jul. to Aug.)
CLASS
CLASS
VACATION
VACATION
CLASS
CO-OP
CO-OP
CLASS
CLASS
CO-OP
CO-OP
CLASS
CLASS
CO-OP
CO-OP
VACATION
CLASS
CLASS
Sample 4 year co-op schedule Fall Semester (Sept. to Dec.) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Spring Semester (Jan. to Apr.)
Summer Session I (May to June)
Summer Session II (Jul. to Aug.)
CLASS
CLASS
CLASS
VACATION
CLASS
CO-OP
CO-OP
CLASS
CLASS
CO-OP
CO-OP
CLASS
CLASS
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)
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*
Common threads through all courses:
Critical Reflection, Professionalism, Technology, Continuous Learning, Diversity, Ethics, Collaboration
Completed online while on work terms (one course/term)
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.
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.
Mohammed, Ghana
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-op NORTHEASTERN:
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
Questions/Discussion
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