Co-operative Education (Co-op Ed) is a structured approach to integrating classroom learning with on-the-job work experiences which are related to the students’ course of study and career goals. Co-op Ed is the umbrella term used to describe the various Scheme rotations offered by UTech. These include:
• Internship-SHTM, SBLM, SCIT
• Work Experience- SOTAVE, SOBA, SONAS
• Industrial Work Experience -SOE
• Practicum - SHSS
• Industrial Attachment - SOTAVE
• Professional Practice- SBLM
UTech has introduced Co-op Ed in most of its courses as it seeks to enhance the quality of university education for students. Our university is committed to Co-op Ed as it sees it as a means of:
a. enabling students to engage in employment attachments that will allow them to achieve desired learning outcomes. equipping students with the skills and competencies that are required by industries at the cutting edge of technology. All students are eligible to participate in the Co-op Ed Scheme. However, participation can either be mandatory or voluntary, credit bearing or non-credit bearing, depending on the requirements of a course of study. Co-op Ed modules are normally offered to students who are in their second, third or fourth years of study. However, there are some programmes that may require students to complete this module at the end of their first year. The Co-op Ed experience:
• improves students’ marketability.
• improves academic motivation.
• facilitates a better understanding of career choices and goals among other things. Students may be assigned randomly to Co-op Ed employers by the School’s Coordinator, students may apply for advertised positions OR Students may initiate their own placement however; this must be done in consultation with the School’s Coordinator. Student placement remains ongoing throughout the academic year and during the Christmas and summer periods. For in semester placements, flexibility is required on the part of both the students and Co-op Ed employer. Students may or may not receive compensation. At the time of recruitment or engagement students are made aware of the host company’s position.
