SFU Co-operative Education

10/25/2023

Paige Hunter’s interest in the intersecting fields of climate science, justice, ecology and policy made SFU’s resource and environmental management program a natural fit. She knew that understanding these disciplines is vital to developing solutions to some of the biggest global issues, which is what motivated her throughout her degree.

During her time pursuing an undergraduate degree at SFU she accomplished a lot!

✅ SFU Co-operative Education experience including a placement with the Department of National Defense
✅ Attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27)
✅ Degree in resource & environmental management with honours + certificate in GIS
✅ Land a job and now working in her field of study

Learn more about Paige's educational journey: https://ow.ly/5wQH50PZOgG

SFU Faculty of Environment SFU Alumni

09/18/2023

Are you thinking about opening career doors with the Co-op program? Don't miss out on one of our upcoming Info Sessions taking place in September and October!

Upcoming sessions available for students:

• SEPT 20: SFU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (SFU FASS Undergrad Engagement)
• SEPT 20: SFU Faculty of Health Sciences
• SEPT 21: SFU Science with SFU Faculty of Environment
• OCT 4: SFU - School of Communication (Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology)

RSVP here:

Want to learn more about Co-op? Click here for information on how to attend general and program-specific Co-op Info Sessions!

09/01/2023

Are you interested in participating in the Co-op program? RSVP to an upcoming Info Session happening throughout September and October! Current sessions available for students in SFU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (.engage) , SFU - School of Communication (Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology), SFU Science, and SFU Faculty of Environment.

Want to learn more about Co-op? Click here for information on how to attend general and program-specific Co-op Info Sessions!

07/05/2023

[Blog]
How Building my Skill Set Led to Greater Opportunities

“My university years and degree are not just about completing courses and receiving credits. I realized it is about building my unique skill set.”

“My third year was nearly over when I learnt about the Work-Study program at SFU. I was fortunate enough to get my application approved and was released to seek a work-study position. I reviewed various projects and positions, and that is when I realized what I was missing till now. I came across positions which are lab-based and would give me research experience while being a full-time student!”

“I was in my fourth year when I secured my first co-op at the BC Cancer Research Centre. It helped me to increase my skill level and expand my work experience.”

“By the end of my second co-op term, I felt confident in my skills and ability to work in a research lab. I am proud of my accomplishments and realize how important it was it for me to step out of my comfort zone and live this invaluable experience.”

Student: Rizzek Narang
Organization: BC Cancer Research Centre
Faculty: Faculty of Health Sciences
Program: Co-operative Education, Work-Study

06/21/2023

[Experience]
Deep Dive into an Energy System Modelling Co-op

“Adaptation is something to get used to especially within research work. There can be a lot of experimentation, which in turn, can bring up unexpected roadblocks. When the results are unsatisfactory, the methods used to produce the results are switched up, which could potentially create new concerns. For example, I may try to bring in a new data set that contains a more accurate record of wind speeds at a location, but that data set uses a completely different format for storing its data. Now I have to find a way to utilize this new format of data in order to work with it.”

“The co-op work experience is a lot more than just something you put on your resume. When looking through the material for a course, have ever asked yourself: When will I ever use this? You may be learning a new skill that could potentially show up again in the foreseeable future. When you learn a skill in a co-op, you immediately use your newly obtained knowledge in order to do your job. This not only deepens your knowledge on the skill, but it also demonstrates a real-world use case for the skill you learned. It is an incredibly effective way of learning new skills.”

Student: Kyle Mui
Organization: ΔE+ Research Group
Faculty: SFU Science SFU Applied Sciences
Program: SFU Co-operative Education

The learning experience is one of the most notable highlights with my time in this co-op work term. The onboarding sessions and research tasks that I have undergone were some of the most effective learning experiences I have had throughout the years I have been enrolled at SFU.

06/13/2023

[Blog]
Opportunities are what you Make of it - An Interview with an Economics Student

“At school I never understood the use of optimization models, or the regression models in Economics, but when I started working at BCPC, I was able to pick on some complex models quickly. Also, at times I was able to generate dynamic models specially for date and time for data architecting. Additionally, even though you feel like school courses do not help or transfer knowledge in real world, what it does is the improves your critical thinking & creativity, and that is the most important skill that one needs.”

~ Full Blog on olc.sfu.ca

Student: Ditij Beladiya
Organization: BC Pension Corporation
Faculty: SFU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences SFU Political Science SFU Economics
Program: SFU Co-operative Education

Meet Ditij Beladiya, a student completing an Honours undergraduate degree with a Major in Economics, Concentration in Economic Data Analytics and Minor in Political Science. In this quick Q&A, Ditij shares about his co-op experience. Read about his interview, his day to day tasks and what he has lea...

05/25/2023

[Experience]
"Working at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has been the biggest step I have made towards my academic goals."

"Being able to apply your knowledge from courses to hands on work has been the most valuable aspect of this experience. Learning the process of planning, conducting, and analyzing the results of an experiment has brought a new perspective on the material and theories I learned in class. The number of hours and labour that is dedicated to these new findings to expand the field of knowledge is eye opening. To be able to be a part of the process has been truly inspiring."

"Another valuable aspect of this experience are the connections I have made with numerous people. Being able to build relationships and hear others’ academic journeys has allowed me to view different possible paths and gain valuable advice for my future steps. Learning each unique advice and perspective on the field has made me more confident with my decision on pursuing a career in research. Building this network of relationships with people in the field is critical to your career and can help open new opportunities. "

Student: Jessie Moon
Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Faculty: SFU Science

Working at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has been the biggest step I have made towards my academic goals. I was able to work with amazing people and learn a lot!

05/18/2023

[Blog]
Videography 101: A How-to on Making Videos from Start to Finish

“The role of “videographer” in reality is a role that comprises several specialist roles (often solo roles in their own right): writer, producer, director, cinematographer, sound designer, editor, and perhaps even illustrator, graphic designer, animator, VFX artist- the list goes on, depending on your skills. I found this out the hard way during my co-op term as a videographer (and digital designer)! So no, not just anyone can make videos professionally.”

“Looking at the list of skills you’ll need to do something as simple as “making a video” may be daunting at first glance, but by breaking down the process into more manageable goals, I hope this post provides a decent starting foundation on how to make videos, start to finish, all on your own.”

Student: Trisha Wong
Faculty:
Program:

Creating a video might seem like a daunting task, especially when we look at the editing aspect, but Trisha has provided a guide that has simplified the process for her while she gained work experience during her co-op term.

05/17/2023

Want to be a culturally competent and sought-after professional in today’s globalized workforce? This FREE self-paced online course gives you the opportunity to integrate theory and practice of understanding and navigating cultural differences at school or in the workplace, have an increased awareness of how your cultural influences can affect your intercultural interactions, as well as understand the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous cultures in Canada. Sign up on myExperience by June 11th! Visit: https://www.sfu.ca/wil/eic.html

05/17/2023

Receive feedback on your cover letter, resume & engage in activities that are relevant in today's workplace. Cost: $20; non-refundable after course start date. Register by May 28th on myExperience! http://www.sfu.ca/wil/jss.html

05/17/2023

Are you a SFU Faculty of Health Sciences student interested in participating in the Co-op program? RSVP via myExperience and join us for a free information session TOMORROW Wednesday, May 17th at BLU 10913 FHS Student Commons, Clam Shell!
http://www.sfu.ca/coop/info-sessions.html