SASKATCHEWAN
Adult Basic Education – Essential Skills for the Workplace
Apprenticeship Credits and Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship
Providing Career Development Information and Support to Saskatchewan Citizens
University of Regina Co-operative Education & Internships Programs (Co-op)
Saskatchewan Polytechnic Aboriginal Nursing Student Achievement Program
University of Regina Co-operative Education & Internships Programs Apprenticeship
PURPOSE: To provide students with the opportunity to obtain credits for high school graduation; to recognize student achievement in trades training and employment; to raise awareness of apprenticeship as a career option for high school students ; and, to assist in meeting the labour market needs of Saskatchewan employers.
MINISTRY
University of Regina in partnership with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Government of Saskatchewan
DESCRIPTION
Established in 1969, the University of Regina is a pioneer in co-operative education in Canada. Co-op students apply what they learn in the classroom to the workplace and then in turn become stronger students by applying what is learned in the workplace to academic studies.
The co-op format is an option in the faculties of Business Administration, Arts, Engineering & Applied Science, and a number of programs offered by the Faculty of Science (Biology, Computer Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics).
FURTHER INFORMATION
RESULTS
The ability to explore potential career opportunities, develop a network of contacts in the field, learn transferable workplace skills and earn money while learning has made the co-op program successful. Most co-op students have job offers before they graduate, often with a previous co-op/internship employer, while others find employment more quickly after graduation. The co-op program also plays an important role in University of Regina’s UR Guarantee Program, which guarantees undergraduates in the program career related employment following graduation or they receive an additional year of university free.
Co-op programing continues to expand at the University of Regina with increasing numbers of international and Aboriginal students participating. Internship programs have been added to better serve the evolving needs of students and employers. In 2014, the University of Regina had a record number of co-op and internship students studying/working – a 55 percent increase over the last 10 years. Through paid co-op placements students in the program earned over $10 million in 2014 that helped to offset their tuition and living expenses.
