1. Norah McRae, Executive Director Co-operative Education Program and Career Services

2. Overview of Co-operative Education at University of Victoria Work term criteria and learning assessment Questions and answers What is co-operative education (Co-op)? Co-operative education at UVic

3. Co-op is an educational model that allows students to alternate their academic studies with paid, relevant work experience in their field of study What is co-operative education (Co-op)? Co-operative education at UVic

4. Student recruitment and retention Strong links to the community Benefits: institutional benefits

5. Educational advantage Career advantage Benefits: student benefits

6. Cost-effective recruitment Link to developing technology, skills and practices Help for special projects Expanded community relations Benefits: employer benefits

7. The University of Victoria was one of the first Canadian universities to initiate a co-op program, launching our first program in 1975 Today, we are organized into 13 different co- op offices and are among the largest co-op programs in Western Canada A history of excellence The history of UVic Co-op

8. Co-op is available in nearly every undergraduate program at UVic Some programs are mandatory for students in the corresponding academic programs, while others are optional Undergraduate co-op programs

9. UVic offers the following undergraduate co-op programs: Biochemistry and Microbiology Biology Business (mandatory) Chemistry Computer Science/Mathematics Earth and Ocean Sciences Engineering (mandatory) Health Information Science (mandatory) Humanities, Fine Arts and Professional Writing Law Exercise Sciences, Physical and Health Education (mandatory for students in Recreation and Health Education) Physics and Astronomy Social Sciences Undergraduate co-op programs

10. Graduate co-op is available in most program areas Our formal graduate co-op programs include: Public Administration Education (Coaching Studies) Education Business Administration (MBA) Where no formal graduate co-op exists, students may arrange to participate in co-op by speaking with the appropriate co-op coordinator or faculty member Graduate co-op programs

11. We place close to 2,700 students in work terms each year Our students work for more than 1,100 employers in Canada and across the world In 2008/09, our students completed 2667 placements 128 of these work terms were international, with students working in 35 countries Student placements

12. Students work for employers in fields as far reaching as business administration, mechanical engineering and recreation and health education Students work in a wide range of public and private sectors, including: Business sector Industrial sector Government sector Non-profit sector Student placements

13.  9 work terms were completed in England in 2008/09 (May 08 – Apr 09)  2 of these work terms were through our exchange agreement with University of Surrey 2008/09 placements in England

14.  Exchange program started in 1980  Exchange placements to date (until Aug ’09):  UVic to U of Surrey: 23  U of Surrey to UVic: 21 UVic/University of Surrey Exchange

15. Co-operative Education at the University of Victoria: How does it work? Learning assessment Best practices

16. Work term criteria Work terms are paid and are usually between 13-16 weeks Employer provides training and supervision Student develops learning objectives at start of work term Work term is monitored and evaluated by co-op programs Student writes a report on work term experience at conclusion of work term (reflective learning) Efforts are made to integrate workplace learning back into the classroom

17. Work term evaluations Student develops learning objectives at start of work term Work term is monitored and evaluated by co-op programs mid term evaluations final evaluation at end of the work term

18. Personal Management Research and Problem Solving Communication Managing Information Project, Task & Organizational Skills Teamwork Commitment to Quality Workplace Behavior Social Responsibility Continuous Learning Learning assessment: toward a competency based framework Ten Core Competencies

19. Competency model Communication Competency title Uses communication styles and methods effective for the situation and audienceDefinition statement Communicates in a tone and manner that demonstrates respect Behaviour that describes the competency

20. Competency Based Evaluation Form

21. Employer final evaluations

22. Student final evaluations

23. Integration of workplace learning: completing the learning cycle Experiential learning officer Online teaching resource site for instructors Poster exhibition for senior students Examples of integration initiatives by faculty: post questions on Blackboard invite students to blog Integration of experiential learning factored into promotion and tenure assessment Faculty of Business

24. Learning outcome categories from student work term reports

25. Best practices in co-operative education Strong connections to faculty to help bring workplace-based learning back into the classroom Strong connection with academic disciplines Good relationships with employers Skilled co-op professionals Co-op processes that reinforce learning

26. Co-operative Education at the University of Victoria Questions?

27. Best practices in co-op education Strong connection with academic disciplines to reach out and engage students in relevant co- operative education Strong connections to faculty to help bring workplace-based learning back into the classroom Good relationships with managers at companies and other kinds of organizations, to maintain a strong and loyal employer base Co-op professionals who are skilled in their program disciplines, to help link students to work that is closely related to their studies Co-op processes that support student learning in the workplace (learning objectives, evaluations, work site visits, etc.) Thank you! Norah McRae, Executive Director Co-operative Education and Career Services nmcrae@uvic.ca