Co-operative education (co-op) programs enable students to gain real-world experience by alternating work and study terms. Understanding employers' expectations of students in different disciplines is therefore critical for success. To do this, the relationships between co-op job postings, required skills, and academic backgrounds can be modeled…

The University of Victoria, Canada, strives to enhance undergraduate students' labor market readiness through work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences. Students with disabilities have historically encountered low participation and success rates in WIL, potentially resulting in their under-representation in the post-graduation labor market. To…

This research investigates the integration of industry projects and mentorship into academic curricula, aiming to enhance student learning and professional readiness. By incorporating real-world projects and pairing students with industry mentors, this approach seeks to provide a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application.…

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is widely used to connect students with the world of work and authentic industry practices. WIL research and practice is primarily focused on the benefits to students and universities, whilst the value of WIL to partner organisations remains relatively underexplored. This study takes an industry, government and…

Emerging research suggests that students from equity-deserving groups (EDGs) may experience barriers within work-integrated learning (WIL) that other students may not face, and such barriers may negatively impact students' participation in WIL. Guided by a social justice lens, this study used interviews of co-operative education (co-op) students…

In recent years, colleges and universities in the United States have had an on-again, off-again relationship with Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) units on their campuses. This article discusses the history of how these units came into being and the benefits of having ROTC to the students, the institution, and the nation. While there is…

The major purpose of cooperative education is to prepare students for the workplace by combining academic education with practical experience to develop employment competencies. This research compared employment outcomes and employment earnings for graduates from cooperative education programs with graduates from non-cooperative programs at a…

The article, first of four-part series, defines cooperative vocational education. Common terms are defined, advantages of the cooperative method are listed, and seven types of cooperative vocational education are differentiated. (AG)

In this secound part of a four-part series, planning for a cooperative education program is examined and an agenda provided. The availability of interested students and degree of community support must be investigated. The teacher-coordinator is the key to the program's success. (AG)

Part three of a four-part series emphasizes the importance of the role of teacher-coordinator in a cooperative education program by itemizing the reasons for his supervisory visits to the training stations. (AG)

The Rural Student Vocatioal Program (RSVP) provides cooperative education to Alaskan bush" areas students living 250 air miles from training stations. (MU)

Since well-organized sponsor development at the training site is a significant factor in the success of cooperative education programs, suggestions for upgrading sponsordevelopment are proposed. These relate to objectives, organizational procedures, coordinator assistance to sponsors, and enumeration of sponsor'sresponsibilities. (AG)

This article discusses effective strategic planning and management of employer cooperative education programs. It examines types of planning, the need for such programs, and implementation strategies. Several case studies are considered: Dayton-Hudson, IBM, AT&T, Delta Airlines, and Rockwell International. (CT)

The employer evaluation should be a vital part of the assignment, teaching and motivating the student well beyond the period of the work experience, affecting that experience from the moment of joint commitment. (Author)