Co-op

New study finds that 13 per cent of students in the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment carried out work related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Waterloo created a pilot program to help increase both co-op student and employer awareness of SDGs.

Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education, Dr. Norah McRae (she/her) and Director of International Strategic Initiatives, Shabnam Ivković were awarded best paper at WACE’s 4th International Research Symposium on Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education in September, 2022.

Norah McRae and Shabnam Ivkovic launched a pilot program to help co-op students on international work terms engage their employers in meaningful discussions about the SDGs in the context of the organization. They share the results of the pilot and how the conversations helped bring more awareness of the SDGs and their application to co-op students.

Michael Litt (BASc ’11) and Devon Galloway (BASc ’10), cofounders of video sharing app Vidyard, credit their success to the hands-on skillset they gained from co-op. With Vidyard now having over 12 million users, the founders have started a venture capital firm to invest in new talent and support the next generation of innovators.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

There’s something in the Water(loo)

University of Waterloo alumni reflect on how the tech-centered university was crucial in their success in the field. The unique combination of accessible tech courses and hands on learning prepares students to find innovative solutions in a competitive space.

Esteban Veintimilla (BMath ’18, MBET ’22), a University of Waterloo alum and co-founder of 1Mentor, believes his platform provides critical data on student interests and program comparison to the job market. Using AI, the platform also helps students explore career paths and identifies upskilling opportunities to prepare for their desired jobs.

When The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario was overcapacity with children battling illnesses in November, two University Waterloo Pharmacy students, who were already in Ottawa for their co-op positions, stepped up to help. Parsa Ali and Duaa Osman brought an “injection of energy” to the hospital during a tough time.