Work-Learn Institute

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

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

Developing and delivering a culturally relevant international work-integrated learning exchange for Indigenous students

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Decolonization and Indigenization are increasingly important topics in post-secondary education. This paper evaluates an international Indigenous work-integrated learning (WIL) exchange between University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada and three Australian Universities.

Tags: Research feature, Future of work and WIL, Student experience outcomes, Quality program design

Employers’ perspectives about hiring students from international pathways

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000

A growing number of students from international pathways (SFIP) are coming to study at Canadian post-secondary institutions. These students often participate in work-integrated learning programs. In this study, the researchers explored perceptions held by employers regarding the hiring of these students.

Tags: Research feature, Employer experience outcomes, Future of work and WIL