Work-Learn Institute

How should work-integrated learning supervisors support their students? Findings from a mixed methods study

David Drewery, My Truong and Anne-Marie Fannon — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

This study examines what types of supervision co-op students find most valuable, where support is lacking, and how supervisors can strengthen students’ learning and well‑being.

Examining first-year co-operative education students’ responses to stressful events during the job search and application process

Katie Knapp and David Drewery — Thu, 15 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The job search is stressful—especially for first-year co-op students. New research explores how students respond to early work-integrated learning stressors and what helps them cope.

Tags: Journal publication, Completed project, Research feature, Student experience outcomes

The role of lifelong learning characteristics and learning approaches in preparing students for successful work adjustment

David Drewery and Judene Pretti — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

This study explored whether students’ approaches to learning at work explain the relationship between lifelong learning characteristics (LLCs) and work adjustment. This was determined by collecting data via 2 surveys, one at the beginning of the coop term and one at the end of the coop term, to measure students' approaches to learning at work. We found that approaches to learning are a strong candidate for explaining lifelong learners’ successful organizational entry.

Tags: Journal publication, Completed project, Research feature, Student experience outcomes

Amplifying the student voice: barriers faced by students from equity-deserving groups in a Canadian co-op program

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Students from equity-deserving groups (EDGs) may face barriers in work-integrated learning (WIL). This study aimed to identify these barriers experienced by WIL students on a co-op journey from various EDGs. Analyses revealed that students from EDGs faced both structural and non-structural barriers on their co-op journey. The results of this study highlight the need for solutions and action to address these barriers by all WIL stakeholders.

Tags: Journal publication, Completed project, Research feature, Student experience outcomes

Student-faculty partnerships: The role of paid co-op experiences in enhancing teaching and learning

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Between 2020 and 2022, the University of Waterloo rapidly hired and trained over 1000 undergraduate co-operative education (co-op) students as part of the Online Learning Assistant (OLA) Program, to support faculty (i.e., course instructors) in the transition to online teaching. Our research findings suggest that these co-op hires were incredibly beneficial to many faculty, with their efforts ultimately leading to improvements in teaching and learning.

Tags: Journal publication, Completed project, Research feature, Student experience outcomes

Bridging the gender-gap in supervisor interactions: Empowering inexperienced women for success!

Idris Ademuyiwa, David Drewery, Michelle J. Eady, Anne-Marie Fannon — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

This study explores how students’ gender and work experience are associated with the amount of time they spend working together on tasks with supervisors during their co-operative education (co-op) experiences. We also examine how the time spent working together on tasks with supervisors affects students’ self-reported learning.

Tags: Student experience outcomes, Employer experience outcomes

The impact of remote work on workplace friendship development for co-op students

Katie Knapp, Iris Xing and David Drewery — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

This research study explored the kinds of friendships co-op students make on work terms and how they are impacted by remote work. We also examined the impacts of these friendships on outcomes that are important to both students and employers.

Tags: Completed project, Journal publication, Student experience outcomes, Research feature

Future workforce survey and management guide

Kari Pasick-Stewart, Aleczandra Nieboer, and David Drewery — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

One of the most important aspects in successful student recruitment is an understanding of what students value in the workplace. In order to determine whether employers’ perceptions of value aligned with those of current students, both parties were asked to review value statements.

Tags: Future of work and WIL, White paper

Artificial Intelligence and Résumé Critique Experience

David Drewery, Jennifer Woodside and Kristin Eppel — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Résumé critiques are one of the most popular services offered by career services at post-secondary institutions. Researchers wanted to know if using an artificial intelligence-based (“AI”) résumé critique tool prior to an in-person critique would influence the student’s critique experience and learning outcomes.

Tags: Journal publication, Student experience outcomes

WACE 4th International Research Symposium

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The International Research Symposium (IRS) is an international conference organized by the World Association for Cooperative Education (WACE), where leaders in industry, government and academia, as well as experts in work-integrated education gather from around the world to present research and case studies, exchange information and know-how, and build human networks.

Tags: Future of work and WIL, White paper