Co-operative Education plays an integral role in the university student's career by combining academics with related, paid work experience.
In the past thirteen years, SFU students have worked in over 2000 international work terms all over the world. Co-op coordinators identify international work experiences as those that assist students with applying their academic knowledge to the professional environment while developing the cross-cultural communications skills crucial for success in the global workplace.
SFU has ranked #1 in Maclean's University Rankings in the comprehensive category from 2008-2011.
Some of our international employers include AXA, HSBC, Microsoft, Sanyo, Daimler Chrysler/Mercedes Benz, L'Oréal, Condé Nast, and the BBC.
Benefits to Employers
In times of budgetary constraints, international employers can hire SFU students on a contract bases, while adding cultural and international diversity to their company.
SFU International Co-op assists in the hiring process by collecting and organizing applications and resumes, setting up interviews (by phone or webcam), and assisting the students with finding information on visa and country-specific requirements.
What is my commitment while the Co-op student is on a work term?
The supervision and guidance that you provide is an invaluable component of a co-op student's practical experience. A wide variety of organizations participate in Co-op, and we recognize that every organization provides a unique experience for SFU students. Some co-op students have had previous experience working in a co-op position, while others are entering their first work term. More often than not, this is the first time a co-op student has worked overseas, and may likely experience a period of culture shock. We appreciate your efforts to ensure that the co-op student's work term is a positive one and upon entering the co-op process, you will be provided with an employer's packaging with suggestions, based on past student feedback, on how to make a co-op work term the most successful for both your company and the student.
We look forward to working with you to ensure a productive work term for both you and the Co-op student.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by email: icoop@sfu.ca or by phone: 1-778-782-2189