Many of Brock’s co-op education programs have received an extra stamp of approval.

Thanks to a comprehensive application and review process, 27 of Brock’s co-op programs are officially accredited by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada.

By achieving and maintaining accreditation criteria, Brock aims to build quality into existing co-op programs and provide a benchmark for establishing new co-op programs.

To qualify for accreditation, Brock’s Co-op Education team documented the various specific criteria, including the programs’ structure, delivery and evaluation, as well as the overall institutional commitment of the University.

Julia Zhu, Brock’s Associate Director of Co-op Education, said the certification helps show external audiences the strength of Brock’s programs.

“Part of our vision is to be a leader in quality experiential education, and co-op is one of the most robust models of experiential learning,” she said. “This accreditation demonstrates excellence and the commitment Brock has to be a leader both internally and to our partners across the country to continue improving the student experience.”

Having worked for more than a year to prepare the applications, Zhu said her team feels the recognition adds value to the efforts of the University’s co-op students.

“This recognition confirms we are developing talent that Canada and the world needs,” she said. “This has been a great way to show accountability and commitment on the side of the University to position our students for success in their careers and personal lives.”

Cara Krezek, Director of Co-op, Career and Experiential Education, said the collaborative nature of the application process has also had an extra benefit.

“The process of sharing our programs allows us to help others with theirs and to reflect on our own,” she said. “It actually gave us some exciting new ideas.”

With the accreditation lasting six years, Zhu and her team are ready to work with additional departments to achieve the same recognition for their co-op programs.

“We know the value of all of our co-op programs here at Brock, and we want to work with our faculty and staff to ensure all programs have the chance to showcase that to external audiences through evaluation and certification,” she said.

Anyone interested in learning more about the process of official co-op program accreditation from CEWIL is invited to email co-op@brocku.ca