Issues of equity and inclusiveness are of ongoing concern within the context of co-operative education (co-op). This is particularly the case for students who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately, recent research suggests that many organizations are not inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals. There is a need for a better understanding of what stakeholders including students, employers, and institutions can do to create inclusive workplaces.
This session details an exploration of eight LGBTQ+ co-op students’ work term experiences with a focus on inclusiveness. We will draw from these experiences (17 in total) to characterize students’ perceptions of an inclusive workplace. We also draw from the literature and students’ experiences to identify strategies for creating inclusive workplaces. Participants in the session will be asked to work in groups to translate these strategies in practical terms for stakeholders in the Waterloo context. Strategies shared in the session pertain to students, members of the host organization (recruiters and in particular supervisors) and Waterloo staff. Therefore, insights shared in the session are relevant to staff who work directly with students or employers.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the perceptions of workplace inclusiveness held by LGBTQ+ co-op students
- Articulate several strategies based on previous research and students’ experiences that might help to create inclusive workplaces
- Translate those strategies into everyday practice in the Waterloo context
Key Themes:
- Supporting Students
- Equity & Inclusion
Presenters:
Beck Mallozzi is a fourth year Science (Psychology) student at the University of Waterloo. She has previously served multiple positions with the Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity. She is an advocate for inclusivity particularly for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Her most recent co-op job was working with the Waterloo Centre for the Advancement of Co-operative Education (WatCACE) where she examined the ways in which institutions, students, and employers can work to create more inclusive workplaces.
David Drewery is a Research Coordinator with WatCACE at the University of Waterloo and PhD candidate in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. His research agenda includes service quality and customer service, which he has applied to an understanding of the quality of co-op work term experiences from student and host perspectives. He has published in journals such as Education + Training, Journal of Education and Work, and Higher Education Research and Development and has presented research for the World Association of Co-operative and Work-Integrated Education (WACE) and Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL, formerly CAFCE).
Sessions:
April 5, 2018
1 - 2 pm
QNC 1506
April 5, 2018
2:30 - 3:30 pm
QNC 1506