Employer Impact Awards Rubric: Impact in Innovation

Prompts (500-word maximum per prompt):

  1. Summarize how you encourage and empower Waterloo co-op students to innovate and demonstrate entrepreneurial qualities at your organization.  

  2. Describe specific ways in which your organization encourages an innovative mindset for employees that benefits students. Detail achievements or advancements your company has experienced because of these initiatives.   

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Prompts Scoring criteria 1-3 points 4-6 points 7-8 points 9-10 points
1. Summarize how you encourage and empower Waterloo co-op students to innovate and demonstrate entrepreneurial qualities at your organization.

Did the entry include the following?

  • Programs, tools or resources offered to co-op students (e.g., access to innovation labs, entrepreneurial training sessions, funding for projects, hackathons or workshops).
  • Any mentorship opportunities, pairing students with industry leaders or internal experts to develop entrepreneurial skills.
  • How the organization assigns co-op students to projects or roles where they can take ownership and think creatively.
  • How the organization empowers students to explore innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
  • Examples of practices such as encouraging students to pitch ideas, lead initiatives or collaborate on cross-functional teams.

Provides minimal detail and few/no examples

Provides some detail and adequate examples

Provides adequate detail and good examples

Provides excellent detail and strong, connected examples
2. Describe specific ways in which your organization encourages an innovative mindset for employees that benefits students. Detail achievements or advancements your company has experienced because of these initiatives.

Did the entry include the following?

  • How the organization thrives through innovation.
  • How the organization fosters an open environment for experimentation. Concrete examples of results, projects, or innovations that Waterloo co-op students led or significantly contributed to.
  • How the organization quantifies the impact of co-op students’ contribution where possible (e.g., cost savings, revenue growth, product development, improved processes).
  • Accolades or recognition earned because of co-op students’ efforts (e.g., awards, media coverage).
  • Impact on the organization's culture.
 Provides minimal detail and few/no examples Provides some detail and adequate examples Provides adequate detail and good examples Provides excellent detail and strong, connected examples