Office of the Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education

By: Deb Iler, Michelle DeHaan and Jenn Gervais

The University of Waterloo's Administrative Professionals Community of Practice brought 60 staff members together this spring for its second in-person event, celebrating professional achievements while fostering learning, networking and collaboration. Building on its growing success, the community plans to expand opportunities for year-round connection and professional development for administrative professionals across campus.

By: Micaela Kelly

The three-year global collaboration connects classroom ideas with real-world work to reshape how students learn.

The University of Waterloo’s co-operative education model was featured at the IMPACT 2026 conference as a leading approach to preparing students for careers in Canada’s growing green and blue economy. Judene Pretti emphasized that co-op and work-integrated learning give students real-world experience, helping them build critical skills, adaptability and a sense of purpose in sustainability-focused roles. The discussion also underscored the importance of strong partnerships between post-secondary institutions and employers, showing how collaboration, multiple work terms and initiatives like SDG-focused reflection activities help students connect their work to broader environmental and workforce needs.