UPEI Celebrates National Co-operative Education Week

UPEI will celebrate co-operative education during National Co-operative Education Week in Canada from March 14–18, 2016. This year also marks UPEI’s 20th year of offering co-operative education programs.

UPEI co-op students will be recognized for their achievements in cooperative education at the annual Co-op Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 17, from 4-5:30 p.m., in the Robertson Library. A “Co-op Student of the Year” prize will be awarded to a student in each of the programs that offer co-operative education: Business, Computer Science, and Physics.

“Co-operative education provides participants with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they gain in their academic studies in a paid work term,” says Donald Moses, Interim University Librarian and Director of Skills, Development and Learning. “Students can experience a variety of workplace environments, develop critical workplace skills, and explore career options. They gain valuable relevant work and life experiences, employment that can be documented in their resumes, and access to a network of contacts they can leverage after graduation.”

UPEI is among many colleges and universities across Canada, developing their students into workplace professionals through co-operative education. UPEI’s Co-operative Education Program is a partnership between the student, the employer, and the institution—all of which benefit. Students gain hands-on work experience; employers have the opportunity to mentor innovative and enthusiastic students; and co-operative education provides a bridge between industry and the institution, and fosters positive relationships for all involved.

For more information about UPEI’s Co-op Program, visit www.upei.ca/co-op or email co-op@upei.ca