Co-Op at VIU

What is co-op? Co-op is a work term where students are placed in a company such that they can work within their chosen field of study. What began as a program offered by a small number of institutions has now expanded to the majority of programs and schools as the benefits to students of being in a co-op program have become increasingly clear. Indeed, one of the professors in the Engineering Department (Brian Dick) was placed in three co-op terms during his undergraduate degree which totalled nearly two years of work experience.

Students planning on transferring to UVic will be entered a mandatory co-op program, while those moving on to UBC can enter the co-op program as an option. If asked, we will always recommend that students take the co-op option during their engineering studies. Although students in the co-op program often take slightly longer to complete their degrees than those who are not, the benefits of their involvement is usually considerable:

• Experience: Students work for up to four months in an engineering firm doing tasks which they would likely be doing soon after graduation. Often this is the first non-academic experience they may have with the engineering profession. Hence, this experience gives students important insight into the work activities they can expect within a particular engineering discipline. The student can then decide whether to stay with the discipline, choose another, or, possibly, move to a completely different profession.

• Professionalism: During their co-op, students will need to prepare reports, give presentations to their peers and bosses, and generally present themselves in such a way as to make a good impression to a (potential) future employer. This experience is vital when they are looking for full-time work after finishing their degree.

• Contacts: Contacts are the bread and butter of not only engineering but for most career paths. Students can often find it easy to make a good impression at their work place because they are excited about using the skills they gained through their academics on a real life problem. For example, one of the professors at VIU gained their contact for graduate work through one co-op placement and a job offer (not taken) through another. These contacts are immensely valuable when it comes to looking for jobs after graduation and gives reason why only a small number of engineering students in a co-op program are looking for a job after they have finished their studies.

• Salary: Students do not work for free. Indeed, most students can make anywhere between $2000 and $3500/month depending on the placement. Over four months, this money goes a long way towards covering tuition and living costs for the academic semesters.

Starting in 2008, students enrolled in first year engineering at VIU can take part in a co-op program through the institution. Why goes through VIU? Students gain all the benefits of co-op (as listed above), but do so with local engineering firms. This year, students have been placed at half a dozen firms including Herold Engineering, Inuktun Services, J.E. Anderson & Associates, Core Group Consultants, Timberlake, and the Dept. of National Defence. In addition, these co-op placements are, in most cases, transferable as credit towards a student's required co-op term at UVic or UBC (if in the co-op option). More information on the co-op program at VIU or contact the Engineering Advisor.