\u201cI fell in love with project management and consulting while I was working in Cambodia,\u201d he said. \u201cI was able to see the difference our demining projects made for villagers who were previously not able to use all of their land, or the smiles on the faces of families who could significantly increase their income through our sustainable silk production project.\u201d<\/p>\n
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While completing a co-op work term with the United Nations Development Programme in Cambodia, Ahmed Jawa analyzed the quality of mulberry tree saplings, which are used to feed silkworms.<\/p><\/div>\n
With these lessons in mind and a once-in-a-lifetime experience to draw from, Jawa was able to land a job as an Associate Consultant for IBM in Toronto after finishing his classes in August .<\/p>\n
However, his interactions with Brock\u2019s co-op team were not done yet.<\/p>\n
In early March, Jawa was one of the recipients of Brock\u2019s Co-op Student of the Year award. And several weeks later, he was notified of another honour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI read the email from CEWIL telling me that I had won the national award and it was unbelievable,\u201d he said. \u201cI was next to my mother and was in a state of shock. She wanted to know what was going on, and when I told her she was super happy and began to cry. It was very emotional for my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to family, the 23-year old Mississauga native said the Co-op Education team had been there for him throughout his time at the University and all three of his co-op work terms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat sets co-op at Brock apart is the people,\u201d he said. \u201cJulia Zhu and her team worked hard for my success from the first day I met them. They were always ready to offer any help I needed to keep my career aspirations on track.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrew Gaudes, Dean of Brock\u2019s Goodman School of Business, said Jawa is the type of student the school had envisioned when they signed the partnership with the United Nations<\/p>\n
\u201cRight from our earliest discussions in proposing the first university co-op partnership with the United Nations Association of Canada, I knew this would be a transformational opportunity for students as well as the countless lives residing in communities where they will be located,\u201d he said. \u201cThis program is for exceptional students like Ahmed Jawa, with personal and professional fulfilment objectives that include social contributions extending beyond the boardroom. We believe so strongly in these opportunities that the UN internship is funded through the transformational gift we received from the Goodman family in 2012, and we remain the only business school in Canada to have such an agreement with the UN.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jawa said he was incredibly grateful for the award and to represent Goodman and the Co-op team in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am super proud, humbled and thankful that I have won this award,\u201d he said. \u201cI work hard, but I never thought I\u2019d win such a prestigious honour. Coming through my Goodman studies, and the partnership they provided with the UN through the co-op program, was super valuable and helped guide me to where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having now returned to Canada and begun his career, Jawa hopes other students will embrace the opportunities co-op work terms offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the best way to add to your degree,\u201d he said. \u201cEducation is great, and it adds value to the way you make decisions and process things, but when you are out in the field, you can grow and make mistakes and learn in a different way that\u2019s very beneficial to your personal and professional goals.\u201d<\/p>\n