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Preparing for your Engineering Co-op Student

Congratulations on hiring an Engineering Co-op student! ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ engineering co-op students are an essential part of the day-to-day operations for organizations across the country. They help meet project deadlines, free up staff time for peak workloads or vacations, and provide opportunities for businesses to screen potential employees. Our students are knowledgeable, as they have completed nearly half of their engineering education before taking on any work placements. They are qualified, enthusiastic, and ready to work.

Please ensure to connect with your incoming co-op student prior to their start date with onboarding information and what to expect on their first day. Start date with onboarding information and first day instructions/what to expect.

Employer Responsibilities

Hiring a co-op student is just like hiring any other temporary employee. The only differences are that a Co-op Program Advisor (PA) or Employer Relationship Manager (ERM) will conduct an Interim On-site Evaluation and, at the end of your student's placement, you will be asked to complete an End of Term Employer Evaluation.

Supervising Your Students

As with any employee, co-op students require a certain amount of mentoring and supervision. The degree of direct supervision varies depending upon the nature of the assignment and your personal supervisory style. As a partner in the process of educating future engineers, you will have many opportunities to introduce our students to progressively more challenging tasks.

If your co-op student is completing their final work term, they will complete a Technical Report. This report is usually graded by a ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ faculty member. However, if confidentiality is an issue, the employer can evaluate the report internally.

Midterm Evaluations

About half way through your student's work term, a Co-op Program Advisor / ERM will arrange a midterm evaluation. Meeting with you and your student at the job site is an integral part of the Co-op Program. More than just a performance evaluation, this is an opportunity for us to ensure that both student and supervisor are finding the co-op experience valuable.

During the site visit a Co-op Program Advisor / ERM will have informal, usually separate discussions with you and your student regarding their performance. On-site visits can be held in person or virtually.

Evaluating your Student

At the end of your student's placement, you will complete an evaluation form based on non-technical skills such as attitude, initiative, communication skills, planning, and organizational abilities. This final evaluation, in conjunction with the interim on-site evaluation and a work term report prepared by the student, will determine whether or not your student receives credit for the work term.

Tips for a Successful Work Term

• Discuss your policies and procedures with your student during the onboarding process
• Provide all necessary training required for the position
• Discuss goal setting and expectations for the work term(s)
• Provide feedback and schedule regular meetings with your student 
• When possible provide mentorship and learning opportunities
• Participate in the Midterm Evaluation meeting and complete the End of Term Employer Evaluation 
• Employer Resources
• We are here to help, please contact your Employer Relationship Manager or contact our office at engineering.co-op@ualberta.ca or 780-492-5152.

Planning Ahead

Take a look at your recruitment strategy and consider how it aligns with the Work Term Sequencing chart. This is a great tool to navigate the different engineering disciplines and program plans. Ensuring a successful recruitment strategy starts with identifying when each discipline goes out (September, January, May) and for how long (4, 8, or 12 months). Contact your Employer Relationship Manager to help create your recruitment strategy to meet the goals