Media

In this episode, Dr. Richard Wikkerink and Ben McDonald discuss the importance of engagement in cooperative education at the University of Waterloo. They explain how meaningful connections with students enhance their educational experience and help them thrive. By focusing on strategies such as professional development courses, advisor-student relationships, and facilitating job opportunities, they show how engagement can set students up for future success. The conversation also highlights skill development, including teamwork, intercultural effectiveness, and the value of regular assessments and student reflections. Ultimately, this episode emphasizes the need for ongoing improvements in engagement to better equip students for their careers.

How can you make a positive impact in the workplace? Dr. Norah McRae, associate provost of Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), discusses how the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals are used as a framework to create meaningful work experiences. Learn how concentrating on impact can open doors to new opportunities and enable both students and employers to tackle the future of work head-on.

Gen Z is taking over the world — and the workplace. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Drewery, associate director of the Work-Learn Institute, to discuss what Gen Z values most and how these core values are shaping their careers.  

What are your values and how do they inform your life choices? Jen Woodside, director of Waterloo’s Centre for Career Action, talks to Jodi about the role exploring, identifying and applying your values can play in finding your career path. 

The world of work is rapidly changing – how can you prepare for an unknown future? We talk to Anne-Marie Fannon, director of Waterloo’s Work-Learn Institute, about the Future Ready Talent Framework.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) has a significant contribution to education. Not only does it deepen academic understanding, but also enhances employability outcomes, fostering the exchange of knowledge between students and workplaces. Implementing the ideal environment for WIL consists of understanding stakeholders' goals and needs, creating a supportive environment, as well as navigating diverging interests. Dr. Norah McRae, associate provost of CEE, discusses with the National Skills Network, the distinction between experiential education and practical work experience, and how WIL plays a role in contributing to the broader educational framework.

Staff loss is a struggle that many universities are facing post-pandemic. To combat this trend, leaders should focus on human-centered approaches, including recognition, professional development, and building community in the workplace.

Co-operative education at the University of Waterloo was built in from the very beginning. That strong foundation has allowed us to not only build the program we have today with more than 25,000 students and 7,500 employers, but build opportunities beyond co-op for our students. They learn how to navigate the hiring process, applying their skills to real-life problems and learning about themselves along the way, ultimately preparing them for the future of work. Hear Dr. Norah McRae talk about how it all started, where we are today and the path forward.

Research from the Work-Learn Institute (WxL) identified three key factors for students working from home during the pandemic.

When the world turned upside down in 2020, a Waterloo Engineering student decided to take it upon himself to help people adapt to new surroundings.