How CO-OP programs truly impact international
students in their career growth
First, it's important to understand what a CO-OP program is before analyzing the benefits it can bring to international students as a career opportunity within Canada. When referring to programs with a CO-OP component, it means an integrated learning experience or professional practice lasting between 4 and 12 months. This experience formally combines academic learning with practical application in the field of study the student has chosen. In many cases, these experiences are paid.
This component is very important for international students. Despite having significant and lengthy work experience in their home countries, they may face challenges in the Canadian job market due to a lack of local experience. Therefore, gaining this experience boosts their career trajectory and makes their profile more attractive to various companies.
Here is the testimony of Carlos Casas, a graduate of the cybersecurity postgraduate program, who completed a CO-OP semester: "Having this experience had a positive impact because, as an international student and particularly as a Latino minority with limited contacts, having a CO-OP helped me tremendously in solidifying what I learned and establishing an initial network and visibility. On a personal note, I noticed that after I completed the CO-OP—and the company offered to extend my contract for another four months under the same CO-OP conditions but as an analyst—I started receiving responses to my job applications from other companies, which hadn’t happened before. This was because I now had Canadian work experience. Even though it was only four months, it made a difference."
Like Carlos, many international students from various fields of study see a huge advantage in having this paid CO-OP component in their program. Georgian College is highly recognized for having one of the highest placement rates, with 90.1% of graduates finding employment within six months, and for having the highest employer satisfaction rate among colleges and universities in Ontario. These results come from the ‘Key Performance Indicator’ of Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities.
Over 5,000 Georgian College students are enrolled in CO-OP programs. Many of these programs are accredited by CELWIL Canada (Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada), which represents the highest level of achievement for CO-OP programs in Canada. In total, 6,200 employers have partnered with Georgian College to offer paid CO-OP experiences and internships, making students more competitive and desirable to future employers. Georgian College has a specialized team that assists students in navigating the CO-OP search process. One of the tools available is Georgian Connects, which offers a database of open job opportunities for students.
Another advantage that students at Georgian College find over traditional CO-OP programs is the ability to apply for E-CO-OP, a practice focused on entrepreneurship or starting a business idea, or I-CO-OP, which focuses on innovation and allows students to work with peers from various disciplines to create products or services that meet community needs.
Georgian College has seven campuses located in the province of Ontario. The main campus is in Barrie, just an hour away from Toronto, which provides students with the advantage of being close to a major city or being situated in Simcoe County, which has various industries such as tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare, among others. This offers international students more opportunities to gain work experience.
Column author:
Dayhana Grandas
LATAM Regional Manager at Georgian College