Undergraduate Co-op Programs
Engineering Summer Co-op Program (4 months)
What is Summer Co-op?
The Summer Co-op Program is designed to assist employers to find quality candidates for the summer months. The duration of the co-op is four months – from May to August. Participating students have completed at least one year of full-time studies and will be returning to Western Engineering (full-time) immediately following their co-op.
Participating Engineering students are enrolled in one of the following programs:
Benefits
There are many benefits to hiring a summer co-op student:
- Pro-active recruitment: You can assess the potential of future graduates
- Employer of choice: Your company will establish a presence and image our co-op students will share with their classmates when they return to school
- Potential re-hires: You can save recruitment costs by rehiring for future summer positions or co-op placements within your organization
- Reduce costs: Co-op placements may be created to complete short-term work assignments, special projects, and research
For maximum benefit of employers and co-op students, it is recommended that co-op work terms have the following components:
- Relevant, degree-related projects
- Supervision and mentorship
- Orientation and job training
- Health and safety training
- Outline learning objectives
- Provide student evaluations
Co-op Tax Credit
To help offset the cost to employers when hiring co-op students, the Ontario government provides a refundable tax credit for hiring students enrolled in a recognized post-secondary co-operative education program.
The eligible employer's total tax credit for the taxation year is equal to the sum of the tax credits for each qualifying co-op work placement. Co-op employers will be sent a tax receipt once the student has completed their co-op work term.
How do I claim the tax credit?
Eligible employers will claim the tax credit on their Ontario income tax returns. Corporations will claim the tax credit on the CT-23 or CT-8 return. Employers operating unincorporated businesses will claim the tax credit on the Ontario Tax Credits for T-1C(ONT) included in their personal income tax return. The tax credit will be available to businesses in the taxation year in which the qualifying co-op placement ends.
Who is an eligible employer for the purposes of this tax credit?
An eligible employer includes all Ontario corporations or unincorporated businesses with permanent establishments in Ontario, subject to Ontario corporate income tax, or Ontario personal income tax.
What students are eligible for the purposes of this tax credit?
Any student who is participating in the Engineering Long-Term Co-op Program or Summer Co-op Program in Ontario meets the requirements. If you have questions about a student’s eligibility, please contact Engineering Career Services.
For more information about the tax credit, please visit the Ontario government website.
Employer Responsibilities
Western is a member of CACEE (Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers) and CEWIL (Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada).
Students are employed in settings that provide work experience directly related to their academic program and career objectives. Co-ops have come to be highly valued by both employers and students. Organizations have an excellent opportunity to evaluate potential full-time employees during 4 month work term. Students have the opportunity to combine their academic knowledge with corporate work experience, while learning new skills.
Guidelines for hiring a co-op student:
It is expected that an employer will:
- Post job opportunities and arrange interviews through Engineering Career Services;
- Extend all job offers through Engineering Career Services;
- Confirm acceptance of job offers and terms of employment in writing to students and to the institution;
- Provide a job that relates to the position posted;
- Honour all offers of employment;
- Provide relevant, degree-related projects
- Provide accurate and complete information on job responsibilities, compensation and benefits;
- Provide the student with a thorough orientation to job and company;
- Provide supervision and mentorship;
- Assign a mentor or advisor to assist the student to identify goals and clarify role and responsibilities;
- Treat the student as an employee;
- Provide the student with relevant training and development opportunities;
- Monitor student's progress, and provide formal/informal feedback on a timely basis to both the student and to the institution.
Offer relevant, degree-related projects
A co-op placement should offer the student relevant, degree-related experience over the course of the work term. Students should feel challenged and be able to reference and utilize their academic training during the performance of their job. The work environment should provide initiative and encouragement. The student should be given autonomy to work on projects, and to report back to the project supervisor. Students should be encouraged to provide input and recommendations.
Supervision and mentorship
For many students, a co-op placement is their first degree-related job. For students to remain motivated and productive, feedback on their performance is important. This is especially critical if their work habits need modifying in order to achieve success. We encourage employers to provide this feedback regularly, and to be available to answer questions and provide guidance, especially in the earliest part of the work term.
Orientation and training
For many students, starting a co-op work term can be intimidating, regardless of their level of experience. It is recommended that your company take students through an orientation process that will provide them with an opportunity to learn about your organization (perhaps a tour), become more familiar with their own work location, and meet their supervisors. A social activity for all new co-op hires can put students in touch with each other and provide networking opportunities.
Most students have limited work experience; therefore, adequate training will ensure that co-op students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfill the expectations of their role. While initial training is usually provided, subsequent education is often required ensuring that the co-op students are working to their potential. In many cases, the outgoing co-op student will be required to train the incoming co-op student.
Health and safety training
You, as the employer, are responsible for ensuring all co-op students have received and understand the employer’s health and safety policies and procedures, including those policies and procedures applicable to workplace violence and harassment. In addition, appropriate health and safety training must be provided to all co-op students at the commencement of the co-op work term.
Outline learning objectives
A co-op transitions learning from the classroom to learning on the job. Learning objectives will balance the needs of the co-op student to develop skills, with the organization’s productivity needs, while serving to improve the student’s competence to perform to the company’s expectations. Learning objectives not only outline the schedule of job activities and expectations for the co-op students, but address what should be learned through these activities. It is important that the work assigned to students be relevant to their academic background and level of education. Learning objectives are a tool to measure the performance of a co-op student during the evaluation process.
Steps for developing learning outcomes:
- Identify learning needs with respect to a particular set of competencies
- Outline the learning objectives – describe what the student is expected to learn, not what they are expected to do, and provide a timeframe for meeting these expectations
- Identify learning resources and strategies (e.g., manuals, internet, company training sessions, colleagues, etc.)
- Indicate how accomplishment is measured and provide evidence that the competency has been reached
Evaluation Form
Salary Statistics
- First-year: $16 to $18/hour
- Second-year: $17 to $20/hour
- Third-year: $19 to $22/hour
- Fourth-year: $21 to $26/hour
Student Qualifications
Minimum qualifications required for Engineering students to enroll:
- In good academic standing in the Faculty of Engineering
- No scholastic/academic offenses
- Full-time undergraduate Engineering students who have completed at least one year of full-time studies
- Returning to Western Engineering (full-time) immediately following their co-op
Recruitment Schedule
Western Engineering's Summer Co-op program offers employers complete flexibility regarding recruitment timelines and activities. Job postings, interviews, and offers are done without date restrictions.
Postings: Postings will be accepted until June 9, 2023 on Western Connect. All posted opportunities must meet the minimum duration requirement of 10 weeks.
Interviews: We'll help you coordinate interviews in our on-campus interview rooms, via Skype, or at your company location. Simply email the Engineering Career Services Office, wecareer@uwo.ca, for assistance.
Offers: We will present employment offers right away to students, with a 48 hour response time.
Engineering Long-Term Co-op Program (8-16 months)
What is Long-Term Co-op?
The goal of the Long-Term Co-op Program is to provide students with an opportunity to work at a professional level for a longer term than is provided through summer work projects. Students thereby receive a richer learning experience as a member of an engineering team while providing real value to the company. Participating students are currently enrolled full-time in their 2nd last year of their degree program and will be returning to Western Engineering (full-time) immediately following their co-op for their final year of study.
The Long-Term Co-op Program offers placement durations of up to 16 months, providing continuity and stability to your major projects. Many employers feel that this is an effective means of evaluating potential future employees before making long term hiring commitments.
Participating Engineering students are enrolled in one of the following programs:
Benefits
Employers see the benefits of hiring and training students with several years of academic education to take on major projects and responsibilities. Long-term co-op students contribute to the successful completion of projects and assignments.
Employers are provided the opportunity to train and work with the co-op student, evaluating the potential that this student may have to offer your company as a full-time employee after graduation. Both students and employers may find that there is a good match of interests leading to a full-time job offer after graduation.
Long-term co-op students are regarded as regular employees taking on responsibilities far beyond the typical duties assigned to 4-month co-op or summer students.
Additional benefits to hiring a long-term co-op student include the following:
- Pro-active recruitment: You can assess the potential of future graduates
- Employer of choice: Your company will establish a presence and image our co-op students will share with their classmates when they return to school
- Potential re-hires: You can save recruitment costs by rehiring for future positions within your organization
- Reduce costs: Co-op placements may be created to complete short-term work assignments, special projects, and research
For maximum benefit of employers and co-op students, it is recommended that co-op work terms have the following components:
- Relevant, degree-related projects
- Supervision and mentorship
- Orientation and job training
- Health and safety training
- Outline learning objectives
- Provide student evaluations
Co-op Tax Credit
To help offset the cost to employers when hiring co-op students, the Ontario government provides a refundable tax credit for hiring students enrolled in a recognized post-secondary co-operative education program.
The eligible employer's total tax credit for the taxation year is equal to the sum of the tax credits for each qualifying co-op work placement. Co-op employers will be sent a tax receipt once the student has completed their co-op work term.
How do I claim the tax credit?
Eligible employers will claim the tax credit on their Ontario income tax returns. Corporations will claim the tax credit on the CT-23 or CT-8 return. Employers operating unincorporated businesses will claim the tax credit on the Ontario Tax Credits for T-1C(ONT) included in their personal income tax return. The tax credit will be available to businesses in the taxation year in which the qualifying co-op placement ends.
Who is an eligible employer for the purposes of this tax credit?
An eligible employer includes all Ontario corporations or unincorporated businesses with permanent establishments in Ontario, subject to Ontario corporate income tax, or Ontario personal income tax.
What students are eligible for the purposes of this tax credit?
Any student who is participating in the Engineering Long-Term Co-op Program or Summer Co-op Program in Ontario meets the requirements. If you have questions about a student’s eligibility, please contact Engineering Career Services.
For more information about the tax credit, please visit the Ontario government website.
Employer Responsibilities
Western is a member of CACEE (Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers) and CEWIL (Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada).
Students are employed in settings that provide work experience directly related to their academic program and career objectives. Co-ops have come to be highly valued by both employers and students. Organizations have an excellent opportunity to evaluate potential full-time employees during a long-term co-op placement. Students have the opportunity to combine their academic knowledge with corporate work experience, while learning new skills.
Guidelines for hiring a co-op student:
It is expected that an employer will:
- Post job opportunities and arrange interviews through Engineering Career Services;
- Extend all job offers through Engineering Career Services;
- Confirm acceptance of job offers and terms of employment in writing to students and to the institution;
- Provide a job that relates to the position posted;
- Honour all offers of employment;
- Provide relevant, degree-related projects
- Provide accurate and complete information on job responsibilities, compensation and benefits;
- Provide the student with a thorough orientation to job and company;
- Provide supervision and mentorship;
- Assign a mentor or advisor to assist the student to identify goals and clarify role and responsibilities;
- Treat the student as an employee;
- Provide the student with relevant training and development opportunities;
- Monitor student's progress, and provide formal/informal feedback on a timely basis to both the student and to the institution.
Offer relevant, degree-related projects
A co-op placement should offer the student relevant, degree-related experience over the course of the work term. Students should feel challenged and be able to reference and utilize their academic training during the performance of their job. The work environment should provide initiative and encouragement. The student should be given autonomy to work on projects, and to report back to the project supervisor. Students should be encouraged to provide input and recommendations.
Supervision and mentorship
For many students, a co-op placement is their first degree-related job. For students to remain motivated and productive, feedback on their performance is important. This is especially critical if their work habits need modifying in order to achieve success. We encourage employers to provide this feedback regularly, and to be available to answer questions and provide guidance, especially in the earliest part of the work term.
Orientation and training
The advantage of a longer-term co-op is that students can assume responsibilities beyond the duties typically assigned to a four-month co-op position. Long-term co-op students have the opportunity for adequate training, and time to become a productive member of the team.
For many students, starting a co-op work term can be intimidating, regardless of their level of experience. It is recommended that your company take students through an orientation process that will provide them with an opportunity to learn about your organization (perhaps a tour), become more familiar with their own work location, and meet their supervisors. A social activity for all new co-op hires can put students in touch with each other and provide networking opportunities.
Most students have limited work experience; therefore, adequate training will ensure that co-op students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfill the expectations of their role. While initial training is usually provided, subsequent education is often required ensuring that the co-op students are working to their potential. In many cases, the outgoing co-op student will be required to train the incoming co-op student.
Health and safety training
You, as the employer, are responsible for ensuring all co-op students have received and understand the employer’s health and safety policies and procedures, including those policies and procedures applicable to workplace violence and harassment. In addition, appropriate health and safety training must be provided to all co-op students at the commencement of the co-op work term.
Outline learning objectives
A co-op transitions learning from the classroom to learning on the job. Learning objectives will balance the needs of the co-op student to develop skills, with the organization’s productivity needs, while serving to improve the student’s competence to perform to the company’s expectations. Learning objectives not only outline the schedule of job activities and expectations for the co-op students, but address what should be learned through these activities. It is important that the work assigned to students be relevant to their academic background and level of education (usually third year students). Learning objectives are a tool to measure the performance of a co-op student during the evaluation process.
Steps for developing learning outcomes:
- Identify learning needs with respect to a particular set of competencies
- Outline the learning objectives – describe what the student is expected to learn, not what they are expected to do, and provide a time-frame for meeting these expectations
- Identify learning resources and strategies (e.g., manuals, internet, company training sessions, colleagues, etc.)
- Indicate how accomplishment is measured and provide evidence that the competency has been reached
Evaluation Form
Interim Evaluation - Provide co-op students with an initial written evaluation (usually after three months), taking into consideration their level of experience and time on the job. To prepare for the evaluation, both the supervisor and the student should review the learning objectives. Both parties can then meet to develop an official evaluation. An evaluation form is available from Engineering Career Services or you are welcome to use your own company evaluation form. It is important that both the supervisor and student have input into the evaluation. Co-op students are required to submit their interim evaluation to their faculty coordinator.
Final Evaluation - Provide a final evaluation at the end of the work term. It is important not only to give feedback to the student, but also assess improvements in performance and success in meeting objectives. The learning objectives should once again be reviewed, and both the supervisor and student should provide input. All students are required to submit their final evaluations to their faculty coordinator.
Salary Statistics
| ENGINEERING | AVERAGE |
|---|---|
| Chemical / Biochemical | $55,040 |
| High: $82,320 / Low: $38,730 | |
| Civil / Environmental | $44,752 |
| High: $59,280 / Low: $36,400 | |
| Computer / Software | $52,390 |
| High: $83,200 / Low: $37,440 | |
| Electrical | $52,829 |
| High: $72,150 / Low: $38,966 | |
| Mechanical / Mechatronic Systems / Integrated | $51,272 |
| High: $83,200 / Low: $39,000 |
Student Qualifications
Minimum qualifications required for Engineering students to enroll:
- In good academic standing in the Faculty of Engineering
- No scholastic/academic offenses
- Have completed a minimum of 3 full academic years of an undergraduate engineering program
- Returning to Western Engineering (full-time) immediately following their co-op
Recruitment Schedule
- 2024-25 student cohort have flexibility to start between May and September 2025
- Work terms can run for 8 to 16 month durations, depending on start date (must return to full-time studies in September 2026)
- Continuous recruitment cycle (no prescribed offer or rank-match date)
The following dates are recommendations for ensuring a positive and successful recruitment experience. If you have required dates that fall outside of these recommendations, please let us know ( wecareer@uwo.ca) and we would be happy to discuss.
|
Date |
Activity |
Notes |
|
September 27, 2024 |
Job Postings go live to students |
Post opportunities on our student job board Western Connect or by emailing wecareer@uwo.ca |
|
October 13, 2024 |
Earliest possible application deadline |
|
|
October 14, 2024 – August 15, 2025 |
Continuous Interview, Offer, & Acceptance Period |
Interviews can be arranged by filling out the Interview Request Form. Job offers to be submitted through Western’s Job Offer Form (students are given 2 business days to consider offers). Notable dates: Fall Reading Week: Oct 12 – Oct 20, 2024 Fall Exams and Holiday Closure: Dec 10, 2024 - Jan 7, 2025 Winter Reading Week: Feb 15 – 23, 2025 Winter Term Final Exams: April 7 – 30, 2025 |
|
August 18, 2025 |
Final application deadline for 2024-25 recruitment cycle |
|
