Students at North Island College will be encouraged to explore co-op opportunities to support their career ambitions, thanks to $75,000 in funding support from the Province to NIC.
The funding will support outreach to more employers and increase awareness of the benefits of co-op placements for both employers and students.
Programming in co-op education combines academic studies with paid work experience in career-related fields.
Co-op students have opportunities to apply their learning, gain employment-related skills and make connections with employers.
This experience better prepares students for entry into the workforce.
“The $75,000 for North Island College will ensure that students can continue to make important connections with local employers,” said Comox Valley MLA Don Mcrae.
“Through co-op experiences, students are able to build on their resumes while developing valuable workplace skills.”
Employers benefit from the energy, fresh ideas, knowledge and skills of co-op students. Co-op placements also provide employers with the opportunity to assess new talent for recruitment after graduation.
“Co-op education improves student experiences and success, and is a key priority in NIC’s strategic plan,” said NIC president John Bowman. “The $75,000 announced today enables students to take part in workplace-based and experiential learning that helps them meet employers, explore their career goals, build confidence and earn money in their chosen field.”
Other Vancouver Island post-secondary institutes receiving similar support are Camosun College, University of Victoria, and Vancouver Island University.