Co-operative education adds value to our degrees
Enhancing learning in a society focused on jobs
The purpose of education is a question we ask ourselves throughout our university experience. Whether you’re just starting to attend university or are already on a trajectory to finishing, it’s easy for the answer to get lost amidst the various entrance requirements, classes, clubs, work responsibilities, and the ultimate dreaded quest to determine a career path that’s right for you.
Many believe education is a tool to better yourself, and a powerful one at that. But the idea that post-secondary education is not ultimately about finding employment is an impractical answer to a much bigger problem facing many graduates. While the experiences gained through college or university are important, they are nonetheless subjective. What enriches one’s soul might crush another’s.
Like anything in life, higher education is a gamble. This is likely why many students explore other avenues to financial independence.
One such avenue is a co-operative education. Many universities, including Kwantlen Polytechnic University, work with employers to develop program-related, paid work experience opportunities for students in distinct disciplines. Depending on how far a student is within their respective program, a co-op education allows them to alternate between study and work semesters, developing and applying skills and knowledge while gaining real life work experience.
However, student expectations are a critical component to co-operative education structure. Even after meeting the entrance requirements to a co-op program and completing the required introductory course, students may still have dramatic experiences when it comes to finding job placement.
As with traditional education, there are no guarantees in securing jobs—the only expectation is for students to actively apply to jobs referred to by co-op instructors. Regardless, the application of knowledge on the job invariably makes education more meaningful, whether or not it becomes applicable afterwards.
Theory without some form of practice is meaningless. On some level, as a society our collective knowledge has taught us that universities are only good for ruining your credit and teaching generations of students how to work for other people. As unfortunate as this may be, it is a reality we have to deal with. Right now a beneficial strategy that remains a viable alternative, at least for the short term, is a co-operative education experience.
