Co-op and Experiential Education

For graduating master’s students, convocation is an important recognition of their hard work and dedication. Some will move on to professional roles, while others plan to continue the research that has captured their imagination.

As they celebrate their accomplishments with their families and supporters, Waterloo recognizes the commitment and success of our master’s students, including these six graduands. 

Convocation is a time to celebrate a significant milestone. This year’s convocation celebrations may look a little different, but the role of the valedictorian remains the same — to represent the graduating class and address the students, families and supporters who will come together to recognize this important day. 

These six students have been selected by their peers in recognition of their social and academic contributions to the Waterloo community.

From supporting a vital social project in India to developing an innovative mindset right here in Kitchener-Waterloo, University of Waterloo students continue to develop critical skills for the future of work. This is all thanks to our outstanding employer partners.

For the first time, six employers are being recognized with a Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) Employer Impact Award for excellence in their industry and providing outstanding opportunities for Waterloo students. Announced October 8, this year’s recipients include:

Anthony Miller has put in many long days in the seven months since COVID-19 first hit Canada. He’s the experiential learning coordinator for Waterloo Pharmacy’s co-operative education program and along with the experiential team, particularly Sarah de Waal and Professor Nancy Waite, he’s overcome many hurdles to ensure Pharmacy students continue to experience safe co-op work terms.

COVID-19 has impacted 2020 co-op work terms in the winter, spring and Fall Terms, with some jobs being cancelled and others created on very short notice.

A Waterloo political science student has been named one of ten Youth Champions for Disarmament by the United Nations. Kirsten Mosey was inspired to work in global affairs after volunteering at a notorious refugee camp on the small Greek island of Lesvos.

To help celebrate International Education Week, three Waterloo Engineering students share their academic or co-operative exchange term highlights on video. 

Mayyasah Akour, Emma Belliveau and Aleksandar Lakić, discuss their unique experiences studying at universities in Singapore, Turkey and France in 2019.

As the global pandemic forces students, businesses and entire industries to adapt to rapid change, the University of Waterloo is deepening its commitment to developing resilient talent for the future with the launch of the Work-Learn Institute (WxL).

Manreet Birdi
Marketing and Communications Specialist

I realized the importance of regulating my mental health when I entered university.

Lena: Music helps me focus and improves my mood

Lena Glutting
Former Community Relations and Events Assistant

Manreet Birdi
Marketing and Communications Specialist

For most of my life, I hated exercising and physical activity.

It was never my “thing”. I never felt motivated, I never liked playing sports in gym class and I never enjoyed going to the gym or working out.