Background

Co-operative Education is a plan of higher education that incorporates productive work experience as a regular and integral part of a student's learning process. By definition, a Co-operative Education Program formally integrates a student's academic studies with work experience in co-operative employer organizations. Co-operative Education is being readily accepted by government, business and industry in Canada and throughout the world. Universities, community colleges, technical schools and high schools are offering Co-op programs to thousands of students in a growing number of disciplines.

Co-operative Education at the University of Regina

The Co-op Program at the University of Regina is based on the principle that well educated, mature individuals will be developed more effectively through an educational system which alternates academic terms and work periods, each four months long. As a Co-op student, you have a tremendous opportunity to benefit from the Co-operative Education program. The usual plan is for the student to alternate periods of experience in appropriate fields of business, industry, government, social services and the professions according to the following criteria:

• Each work situation is developed or approved by the co-operative educational institution as a suitable learning situation.
• The co-operative education student is engaged in productive work rather than merely observing.
• The co-operative education student receives remuneration for the work performed.
• The co-operative education student's progress on the job is monitored by the co-operative education institution.
• The co-operative education student's performance on the job is supervised and evaluated by the student's employer.
• The total co-operative work experience is normally fifty percent of the time spent in academic study, and in no circumstances less than thirty percent.