Assessment and Reporting

The Cooperative Education Program in the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health requires students to spend at least 32 - 48 weeks (Program dependent) in full-time employment in industry during the degree. The employment period is divided into two periods at different stages of their degrees.

Each industrial work placement is a part of their degree which must be passed to satisfy the requirements for graduation.

The formal academic assessment is based on a written report prepared by the student, and an evaluation of the student as an employee which is done by the employer.

In addition, the student is required to keep a Weekly Activity and Reflection Journal and prepare at least five Job Objectives. Together these provide a mechanism which structures the student's learning on the job and assists the communication of what is being learned between the student, company supervisor and academic supervisor.

The final element of assessment is a standard Work Site Visit Report form which is used by academic supervisors to assess the students' progress in personal, professional and social development in the work environment. This formative assessment is not included in the formal academic assessment of the student's performance in the unit, but rather is intended to provide feedback for the student's action, and in some cases may lead to counselling by academic and/or company staff.