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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.

University of Waterloo Associate Professor of Economics Joel Blit warns that AI may be displacing entry-level programming jobs, making it harder for new computer science grads to land their first role. He says the skills students build before graduation, particularly through co-op work terms are now more important than ever. Despite the tough market, Waterloo data shows that 96% of its CS students still find a job within six months—something Blit attributes largely to the strength of the university’s co-op program.

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 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.

This Giving Tuesday, we share short vignettes of the large impact a small donation can have on the lives of co-op students.