Co-op employment for UCFV students is on the rise, thanks to many supportive employers in the Fraser Valley and across BC.

Students enrolled in the Co-operative Education program at the University College of the Fraser Valley are among over 71,879 Co-operative Education students across Canada. With an increase in enrolment in the UCFV Co-op program, many more local businesses and organizations have been benefitting from co-op placements. A number of UCFV students have also returned to work with one of their previous co-op employers after graduating, proving that the program is an effective means for businesses and organizations to find high-quality, pre-trained employees.

Co-operative education programs provide students with the opportunity to alternate study and paid work semesters, allowing them to accumulate experience in the workplace while obtaining their education.

New graduates who have not enrolled in co-op education often find that their job search is hampered by the old "it's not what you know, it's who you know"dilemma. For co-op students, networking with employers and co-workers in their chosen career field provides opportunities to make valuable contacts not normally developed until well after graduation. All of this translates into university and college graduates, who are hired faster, retain higher starting salaries, have lower student debt, and require less initial training.

Jennifer Schanick, a third-year Business Administration co-op student at UCFV, is obtaining finance experience in her current co-op placement with the Royal Bank in Abbotsford.

"For my fourth and fifth co-op work terms, I am fulfilling the role of a personal financial services representative," says Schanick. "Participating in the Business Administration Co-op program at has opened amazing opportunities for me and has accelerated my journey towards a great career in the field of finance."

Gaining access to a highly skilled and motivated group of new employees, reducing time-consuming and costly recruiting, and developing future permanent employees are among the benefits to co-op employers. A recent study of students and employers by the University of Victoria reveals that approximately 60% of graduating co-op students will accept a position with an employer with whom they completed a co-op work term.

Todd Winship is one of these students. Winship, a Computer Information Systems co-op grad from UCFV, has found permanent employment with Peter Reimer & Associates, one of his past co-op

employers. Winship works as Manager of Information Services, and now hires co-op students himself to work within this organization.

"As a past co-op student, I am aware of the benefits that the co-op program has to offer. The co-op program gave me the opportunity to work with established, successful companies and for professional and skilled technical professionals. Being able to apply the knowledge that I had learned in school to real world problems was invaluable, and I still draw upon that experience today," says Winship.

"As our company rapidly expands, I am constantly looking for talented individuals to join the team," he adds. "More and more, I am looking towards the co-op program at UCFV to fill new positions. Students arrive with many of the attributes that I look for in employees: technical skills, a positive attitude, and most importantly fresh ideas. It is truly a win-win relationship for both our company and the co-op students."

To assist in the development and enhancement of Co-op Education in Canada, the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE), a national non-profit organization comprised of close to 500 educators, employers and government officials, is celebrating National Co-operative Education Week from March 19 to 23, 2001. Co-operative Education Week recognizes the importance of on-the-job learning, and encourages continued involvement by the universities, colleges, employers and students who make it possible.

Over the past 10 years, co-operative education enrolment in Canadian universities and colleges has grown by over 67 per cent. At UCFV, the summer 2000 placements numbered 106. Summer 2001 placements will likely exceed this number. The UCFV Centre for Co-operative Education thanks all businesses and organizations that have provided support to the program and quality placements for all our talented students.

"We couldn't succeed with offering real-world career training to our co-op students without the cooperation of so many employers," says Duncan Jeffries, acting manager of UCFV Co-operative Education.

The majority of UCFV co-op students are enrolled in the Business Administration and Computer Information Systems programs, but Science, Arts, and Kinesiology students are also available for placements. Students from both diploma (two-year) and degree (four-year) programs enrol in Co-op.

Businesses or organizations searching for skilled employees can contact the UCFV Co-operative Education Centre at 854-4507.

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For more information, contact:
Deborah Jackel, Co-op Coordinator
Centre for Co-operative Education And Employment Services
(P) 854.4592 ;(F) 870.5627
(E)jackeld@ucfv.ca

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