Co-op Education Has Many Benefits

This week, March 9-14, is National Co-operative Education Week in Canada. More than 3,800 Nova Scotia students are gaining first-hand experience while completing their education through co-operative programs.

Economic Development and Tourism is supporting the placement of more than 230 of these students, helping to prepare them for the workforce.

"Helping Nova Scotia youth secure a better future has become a focus for the provincial government," said Brian Watson, co-ordinator of employment programs. "Through partnerships with non-profits and other organizations, we're helping young people gain experience in the labour market, making their transition from school to the workforce much smoother."

The Co-operative Employment Program, administered by Economic Development and Tourism, will create about 210 placements for students within non-profit government-funded organizations and municipal government.

Since 1991, the department has contributed $4.4 million toward 1,673 co-op work-term placements through this program, offering students an opportunity to gain first-hand work experience in their field of study. Eligible employers must hire a student from an approved co-op program and are reimbursed by Economic Development and Tourism for part of the student's wages.

Another 24 students will obtain valuable work experience within the provincial government through the Department of Human Resources. Economic Development and Tourism has contributed $1.4 million toward the creation of 200 co-op placements within the provincial government over the past seven years.

The benefits to students involved in co-op education include gaining valuable industry experience, great networking opportunities, development of new skills and the sharing of ideas. A 1995-96 survey carried out by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education found that 87 per cent of co-op students find work within six months of graduation.

Co-op education also helps organizations identify potential candidates for regular employment after graduation, giving them insight into the calibre of potential employees. In addition, the employers benefit from the latest theories and fresh ideas from the academic world, as well as having continuous access to diversely talented and highly motivated students.