News

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.

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.

The Sudbury Star highlights Jonathan Gbedemah, a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Doctor of Pharmacy Co-operative Education Program, who credits his co-op clinical rotations in Sudbury for inspiring his long-term commitment to northern Ontario. After gaining hands-on experience across twenty-three pharmacies, he opened Jonathan’s Kingsway Pharmacy in Sudbury and was recently named Young Entrepreneur of the Year. His journey reflects how Waterloo’s co-op education fosters career readiness, community impact, and entrepreneurial success.

By: Christie Zeb (she/her)

Change makers, Rewa and Bruce embarked on a transformative co-op experience in Thailand, supporting migrant teachers and refugee children.

How can reflection enhance your work-integrated learning experience? Dr. Andrea Prier discusses the practice of reflection in co-op education and its role in helping students plan, engage, and evaluate their work experiences. Learn how intentional reflection at different stages of the work term can improve skill articulation, personal growth, and career preparedness for both students and employers.

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.

By: Christie Zeb

With funding support, students benefit from the opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts and community development in the Galapagos. 

By: Matthew King (he/him)

The publication highlights CEE’s four key principles when designing or facilitating intergenerational experiences.

By: Micaela Kelly 

Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) congratulates Shabnam Ivković who received the inaugural Sustainable Development Leadership Award from the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). 

By: Christie Zeb (she/her)

Kyle Joedicke, Cayuga woodland artist, creates a new mural for Co-operative and Experience Education (CEE) to represent unity and community.