Faculty of Health co-op student, Sarah Bayrakdarian, shines among talented peers at Breast Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care International Conference.
A University of Waterloo student shares how she earned a spot in the highly competitive software engineering program, choosing Waterloo in large part because of its renowned co-op education and the paid, real-world work experience it offers. After navigating a rigorous application process, she has completed multiple co-op work terms in quality assurance and software development, gaining practical skills and professional connections that prepare her for a career in tech. Her journey highlights how Waterloo’s co-op model helps bridge academic learning with hands-on industry experience.
An Indian student, Pallavi Thapar, says she chose the University of Waterloo because of its elite co-op program, which provided paid work terms and real-world experience while she earned her degree. Through her co-op placements in psychology and marketing, she built a professional network, refined her career goals and gained confidence navigating Canada’s highly competitive job market. Her journey reflects the importance of strategic planning, adaptability and work-integrated learning for international students seeking long-term success.
The University of Waterloo has teamed up with Google to establish a Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning, backed by a $1 million investment, supporting new research and hands-on AI prototyping labs. The partnership cites Waterloo’s largest-in-Canada co-operative education program, which has long nurtured students to bring real-world experience into innovation and research, as a key reason Google selected the university. Through this collaboration, students will co-create AI-based learning technologies and directly engage in shaping how people interact with AI in future workplaces.
Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS), a global leader in customer experience and digital services, has chosen Waterloo for its new AI and data innovation centre—bringing 150 new jobs to the region. The company highlighted the area’s deep talent pool, including the University of Waterloo’s renowned co-op program, as a key factor in its decision. By tapping into Waterloo’s pipeline of skilled, work-ready students, HGS will strengthen its operations while giving students opportunities to apply their skills in AI, data analytics and customer experience on a global stage.
University of Waterloo student Henriëtta van Niekerk has created Skrimp.AI, a free AI-powered tool that helps families reduce their grocery bills by comparing local flyers, spotting the best deals and suggesting budget-friendly meal plans. Inspired by her own family’s experiences with food price inflation, Henriëtta combined skills gained through Waterloo’s co-op program to design something practical and impactful. Her work shows how students can leverage experiential learning to solve everyday challenges with innovation.
In an HRD Talk episode, host Emily Douglas sits down with Judene Pretti, director of the Work-Learn Institute, and co-op student Maanasa Rajaguru, third-year Faculty of Arts co-op student, from the University of Waterloo to explore how employers can more effectively engage Gen Z talent. The conversation highlights Gen Z’s desire for meaningful work and a strong sense of belonging. Pretti and Rajaguru emphasize that young workers thrive when they’re treated as valued team members whose contributions align with broader organizational goals. To connect with the next generation, organizations must foster cultures centred on growth, continuous learning and purpose.
In the Ottawa Sun, Linda White explores how co-operative education programs allow students to test drive careers, highlighting the University of Waterloo’s leading role with North America’s largest co-op program. Molly Furness, career advisor with Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), explains how this hands-on approach helps students confirm or reconsider their career goals early on. Through its Future Ready Talent Framework (FRTF), Waterloo’s co-op program allows students to develop key skills, earn income and establish professional networks, positioning them for job offers and long-term success.
In a Times of India video, Pallavi Thapar, an international student from India, shares how the University of Waterloo helped her overcome homesickness and grow into a confident, independent learner. At 4:23 of the video, she highlights the co-op program and the Centre for Career Development (CCD) as key supports in exploring career options and gaining real-world experience.
By: Matthew King
The graduate work-integrated learning (GradWIL) project at the University of Waterloo is finishing its pilot phase and moving into operational programs. This important step is a chance to look back at what has been achieved so far and to show ongoing commitment to giving graduate students practical, career-focused work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences.