Cooperative Education and Internships are an academic/business strategy combining on-campus study with practical work experience. Cooperative Education students typically alternate between days/weeks/semesters of study in school and similar periods of employment in business, government and non-profit organizations. Internships allow a student to practice what has been learned in the classroom while participating in experiential education concurrently. Both types of work-based learning experiences are planned and supervised to contribute to students' education and employability.
Formal cooperative education began at the University of Cincinnati in the early 1900s when seven engineering students were placed in a training program that alternated one week of practical work experience with one week of instruction at the school. The program developed so well that the entire school of engineering shifted to the cooperative plan in 1920 at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the General Electric Company. Based on the success of the Cincinnati venture, other schools and colleges started programs of their own.
Today many private and public colleges and universities offer internships, apprenticeships, and cooperative education nationwide at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Formal cooperative education began at the University of Cincinnati in the early 1900s when seven engineering students were placed in a training program that alternated one week of practical work experience with one week of instruction at the school. The program developed so well that the entire school of engineering shifted to the cooperative plan in 1920 at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the General Electric Company. Based on the success of the Cincinnati venture, other schools and colleges started programs of their own.
Today many private and public colleges and universities offer internships, apprenticeships, and cooperative education nationwide at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Benefits
Employer Benefits |
· The cost of recruiting co-op students averages 16 times less than recruiting recent college graduates.
· Almost 50% of co-op students accept permanent positions with their co-op employers. The retention of college graduates after five years of employment is 30% greater for co-op graduates.
· Typically, co-op students receive lower salaries and fewer fringe benefits than permanent employees. Total wages average 40% less for co-op students.
· The percentage of minority group members hired is twice as high among co-op students as among recent college graduates, thus assisting co-op employers in meeting EEO objectives.
· Co-op programs provide an opportunity to evaluate employees prior to a decision regarding full-time employment.
· The co-op graduate's work performance is often superior to that of a college graduate without a co-op. Students are more flexible and easily adapt to a professional environment.
· Regular staff members are freed up from more basic aspects of their jobs to focus on more demanding and profitable assignments.
· Co-op programs supply students who have new ideas and fresh approaches. Co-op students bring state-of-the-art technical knowledge to their work assignments.
Co-op graduates are generally promoted sooner (and further) than other graduates. Co-op programs build positive relationships between businesses and schools
· Almost 50% of co-op students accept permanent positions with their co-op employers. The retention of college graduates after five years of employment is 30% greater for co-op graduates.
· Typically, co-op students receive lower salaries and fewer fringe benefits than permanent employees. Total wages average 40% less for co-op students.
· The percentage of minority group members hired is twice as high among co-op students as among recent college graduates, thus assisting co-op employers in meeting EEO objectives.
· Co-op programs provide an opportunity to evaluate employees prior to a decision regarding full-time employment.
· The co-op graduate's work performance is often superior to that of a college graduate without a co-op. Students are more flexible and easily adapt to a professional environment.
· Regular staff members are freed up from more basic aspects of their jobs to focus on more demanding and profitable assignments.
· Co-op programs supply students who have new ideas and fresh approaches. Co-op students bring state-of-the-art technical knowledge to their work assignments.
Co-op graduates are generally promoted sooner (and further) than other graduates. Co-op programs build positive relationships between businesses and schools
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Student Benefits
· Co-op programs enable students to apply classroom theory to actual work situations. Co-op programs allow students to test out their interests and develop their long-range career plans and career goals.
· Co-op programs enhance the graduates' market-ability by providing on-the-job training.
· Students enrolled in co-op programs show increased academic performance (higher GPA, fewer failed courses), and a 20% greater graduation rate.
· Co-op programs provide students with a source of financial aid to help defray their educational expenses.
· Co-op programs develop students' overall maturity by strengthening resourcefulness, problem-solving skills, self-confidence, self-discipline, and sense of responsibility.
· Students develop human relations skills through interaction in career settings.
· Co-op programs enhance the graduates' market-ability by providing on-the-job training.
· Students enrolled in co-op programs show increased academic performance (higher GPA, fewer failed courses), and a 20% greater graduation rate.
· Co-op programs provide students with a source of financial aid to help defray their educational expenses.
· Co-op programs develop students' overall maturity by strengthening resourcefulness, problem-solving skills, self-confidence, self-discipline, and sense of responsibility.
· Students develop human relations skills through interaction in career settings.
College or University Benefits
· Cooperative work experience provides for an extension of classroom experience, thus integrating theory and practice.
· Cooperative education keeps faculty members better informed and aware of current trends in business and industry.
· Co-op programs build positive relationships between schools and businesses and provide faculty members with access to knowledgeable people working in a variety of fields.
· Co-op programs enhance the institution's reputation and attract students interested in the co-op plan to the school.
· Cooperative education provides schools with additional business and industry training facilities that would otherwise be difficult to finance.
· Cooperative education provides schools with lower placement costs for graduates.
Source: Michigan Council for Cooperative Education
· Cooperative education keeps faculty members better informed and aware of current trends in business and industry.
· Co-op programs build positive relationships between schools and businesses and provide faculty members with access to knowledgeable people working in a variety of fields.
· Co-op programs enhance the institution's reputation and attract students interested in the co-op plan to the school.
· Cooperative education provides schools with additional business and industry training facilities that would otherwise be difficult to finance.
· Cooperative education provides schools with lower placement costs for graduates.
Source: Michigan Council for Cooperative Education