Co-Op Education & Internships

What is Co-operative Education?
Co-op is an educational process which promotes partnerships between students, employers, and the University of Lethbridge to create a unique and enriching learning environment. This worldwide program strengthens educational programs, while providing employers with access to well-educated candidates for immediate term positions and/or future permanent recruitment needs.

Employer Benefits
The employer benefits in this partnership by gaining access to eager employees with new ideas, current technical skills and a proven ability to learn. Co-op also provides a cost effective opportunity for an organization to meet short-term/seasonal needs. Students can complete special projects and undertake tasks to allow permanent employees to concentrate on higher level responsibilities. Establishing this relationship between the business community and post-secondary institutions allows for the exchange of ideas and developments and gives employers the advantage of sharing in the training and preparation of tomorrow’s workforce.

Student Benefits
As a Co-op student, you will experience the employability advantage – that crucial set of personal and employment skills which combine with your academic training to make you are more desirable candidate for employment. By having the Co-op designation attached to your degree is often a major selling point to employers. The work-term often serves as a “test drive” for both employers and students to assess suitability for employment upon graduation. There is also solid evidence that students who complete degrees with the co-operative education option often receive higher starting salaries than their non co-op counterparts. The following recaps some of the benefits offered through Co-op: