Cooperative Education is a philosophy of learning that is based on a partnership between the institution of higher learning and its external stakeholders (industry), whereby the common objective is to provide the student with an enhanced learning experience in a workplace.
In essence, this is a three-way partnership in which the students alternate academic study with periods of work experience, during which they apply their learning in real-life situations under the supervision of experienced mentors in the workplace, as well as the guidance of academic staff from the institution of higher learning. The programme, during which a student spends time in industry while still registered for their undergraduate qualification, is called Work Integrated Learning (WIL).
If the student has already graduated with their first qualification and spends time in industry to gain work experience, that type of programme (or learning) is called Graduate Placement. Both functions fall under the Cooperative Education banner.
The role of the Cooperative Education Unit
- Establishing strategic partnerships that result in the creation of WIL placement opportunities and graduate placement opportunities for students in the workplace. We collaborate with employers, youth organisations, national and international bodies, and all other interested stakeholders on matters relating to student employment.
- Ensuring that cooperative education policies are implemented appropriately across the institution.
- Ensuring that matters that affect the function of cooperative education (WIL and graduate placement) are institutionally addressed.
- Managing information about cooperative education and reporting on it where required.
- Marketing (in collaboration with Marketing and Communication), the various WIL and graduate recruitment programmes
How does the Cooperative Education work?
- Placement partnerships are created between the institution and industry.
- Workstations are sourced through discussions between relevant representatives from the institution and industry. These discussions centre around the ability of specific workstations to meet the training requirements as specified in the learner guide documents for specific programmes.
- Recruitment processes are initiated by the industry partner in cooperation with a staff member from the institution (Placement Coordinator). Where needed, interview facilities are made available on campus.
- During the time that the students are with the organisation, they are treated as regular employees or employees-in-training.
- From time to time, CPUT Placement Coordinators also visit students placed in industry to monitor and assess their progress.
- Periods of placement vary from 3 to 12 months, depending on the requirements of the specific qualification.
Benefits
Benefits of a Cooperative Education Partnership for employers
- Periods of integrating learning and work equip the student with pre-qualification experience, thus enabling employers the opportunity to recruit work-ready graduates
- Students who respond well to the work environment can be retained as full-time employees on completion of their training periods
- Each discipline has an Advisory Committee. Employers of our students have the opportunity to be members of these committees which communicate the needs of industry to the institution. Through membership in these committees, industry helps to shape the training that the students receive at the institution
Benefits of a Cooperative Education Partnership for students
- This is the student’s opportunity to integrate their learning with real-life work situations.
- During this period, students have an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to potential future employers
- Presented with challenging tasks, students are able to develop to their highest potential
- Work experience is often the determining factor in whether or not new graduates find employment. CPUT students, through Cooperative Education, often have the work experience at completion of their academic studies
Social Media
