Centre for Teaching Excellence

Is it true that international students find it more difficult to get a co-op job?

The environment on campus is already international in many respects, due to a multicultural and diverse student body with many ethnic and international students' clubs. Exchange programs are a tremendous learning experience for students and interest in them is growing every year, as evidenced by the number of active student exchange agreements and students participating. Faculty coordinators work on a volunteer basis, and the success of the exchange programs is due in large part to their enthusiasm and dedication. Some exchange agreements provide possibilities for work terms abroad, and these are very attractive to students as a way of broadening their international experience and providing potential employment opportunities upon graduation. In spite of resource limitations, the Department of Co-operative Education and Career Services has been quite successful in finding international placements for students. Waterloo has a strong National Alumni Council and alumni in approximately 100 countries around the world, many in positions of influence.

WatCACE is one of only three major co-op research centres in the world. The other two centres are at Northeastern University in Boston and Trollhatten University in Sweden.

(In 2004, 23 percent of our graduate population and 7 percent of our undergraduate population were international students.)

Title: The Silent Minority: Working with Traditional American Indian Students in Cooperative Education Programs #2 Author: Newell, J., Tyon, M. C. Volume: 25 Accepted Date: 5/1/1989 Page Numbers: 79 - 87 Abstract: Addresses the needs of a traditional Native American population to find work and job success in a culture, which is foreign. Reviews values of Native Americans and the relationship of these values to different employment situations. Suggests that the concepts discussed in this article may be critical for the success of traditional Native American student participation in cooperative education Document: You must log in to view file.