Timeline: Co-operative and Experiential Education’s changes and adjustments throughout COVID-19

By: Namish Modi

During an unprecedented time, University of Waterloo’s co-op employers stepped up in a big way.

Waterloo’s employers showed great flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic by moving to remote interviews and work terms and applying for various financial assistance programs to hire more students. Our employment partners played a vital role in the smooth continuation of the world’s largest co-operative education program.

On March 13, 2020, operations were normal at Waterloo’s William M. Tatham Centre.

Three days later, as the COVID-19 pandemic escalated, everything changed drastically.

In the week beginning March 16, 1,397 students were scheduled to interview for 297 roles for the Spring 2020 term. All interviews moved remote and 92 per cent of the co-op roles were filled as 273 students found employment.

Over the course of the past year, more than 19,000 students secured work terms, as employers and students alike adapted during a disruptive time.

“We owe much of our success in finding placements for more than 19,000 students between the Spring 2020 and Winter 2021 terms, to the strong relationships we maintain with our alumni, faculty, staff and global networks of more than 7,100 employers,” says Norah McRae, associate provost of Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).

A year in review

How did our employers help?

At the outset of COVID-19, D2L, who regularly hires Waterloo co-op students, tried to help students whose future work terms were in jeopardy due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic.

“When we started to hear stories of students losing their co-op jobs, we immediately met with senior leaders across the business to determine how we could create opportunities,” says D2L People and Culture Co-ordinator, Nicky Foster.

Some students on Winter 2020 co-op terms shifted to remote work as the pandemic escalated in March, while others saw their terms end early. Students lost their upcoming spring work terms too.

Shopify Inc. provided each of its employees – including Waterloo co-op students - a $1,000 stipend to set up their home offices. Cognite, a Norway-based company, set up a 24-hour hotline for students to call in case of emergencies. They also provided healthcare through a private clinic and covered all COVID-19 related costs.

Throughout the year, Waterloo’s employers matched our students’ ability to adapt, and communicate, in a new environment.

BlackBerry, a local tech organization, continues to hire Waterloo students during the pandemic because they witnessed students’ abilities to communicate effectively.  Meanwhile, these strong communication skills are further exhibited in the students’ ability to thrive in a variety of roles.

Nermina Lika, talent program manager at PointClickCare, says that the students they hired adjusted quickly to the new virtual environment.

“COVID has accelerated the need for us to have a broader focus on the soft skills,” Lika says. “We can teach the technical skills. We now place a higher importance on the soft skills.”

A big part of PointClickCare’s goal is to provide students autonomy and empowerment, allowing them to add value to the team through innovation. Those skills have become especially important in our current work environment.

Learn more about how Waterloo employers are supporting co-op students here.