Co-op is an educational initiative that enables engineering students to swap semesters of studying with work periods that are connected to their course work and professions on a full-time paid basis. Here is all you need to know about Engineering Co-op Programs:
History
“Co-op” stands for “Cooperative education”, which is a method of teaching experiences that bridges classroom education with paid work. It gives qualified students exposure to work where they study and plan to work in the future. The first university in America to establish a systematic co-op program was by Herman Schneider where he worked as Dean of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati in the year 1906.
Co-op and Internship
Organizations generally pay for co-ops, while they may pay or not pay for internships depending on their policies. No tuition charged when the student is co-op only. While almost all internships do charge tuition fee. But co-ops are generally full-time and require a lot of focus. They also allow student to earn academic credit from the university. While this feature is absent from the internships. It is also noteworthy that internships are not always academically inclined.
Relevance
The relevant on-the-job experience generally boosts the quaility of performance. An opportunity to make money in college while still receiving need-based financial aid because the co-op earnings do not make up good family contribution and also, you could lower your co-op income due to taxes. Avoid all gaps in your educational training and work experience, effectively putting both clinical and non-clinical practices into use. Co-op students have great pictures on their resumes which lead to a job at graduation.
Job Opportunities
Typically, employers hire co-op students after their placement. Both you and your employer get to “try before you buy. Certain co-op students get the opportunity to stay in a different region of the country or even the globe. A few of them get to travel for work purpose and/or go for professional conferences as well. Students working under a co-op tend to work more hours under the co-op and, consequently, contribute more to a company than their interning counterparts, and generally have more time to devote to long-term projects, whereas interns generally only get a glimpse of a company’s inner workings.
Co-op students are exposed to real-world problems and challenges that they may not be exposed to or may never get the opportunity to learn during theory classes. As internships in the form of a cooperative education are typically over a prolonged period and more structured, the former require more from the participating students, unlike a student who completes a regular internship. While this level of responsibility may seem scary, it is also accompanied by advantages such as enhanced engagement with the organization and, in most cases, a better comprehension of the organization.
Many factors determine the choice between an internship and a co-op: a student’s major, commitment to a career in the field, available funds, schedule, and the types of programs offered. In either case, students gain some work experience and leave school with a resume that is sure to make them a cut above other job seeker. It is more likely for a student to get jobs if they opt for engineering co-op programs.
