CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION WEEK
MARCH 18-22, 2013

Highlight March 18-22, 2013 on your calendar to celebrate Co-operative Education Week!

Students across Canada are encouraged to participate in our nationwide social media contest. See the list of participating institutions.
• hyperlink for 'social media contest':  www.coopweek.com
• hyperlink for 'list of participating institutions': http://www.coopweek-en.com/participating-schools.html

Co-operative education has been working in Canada for well over 50 years with no sign of slowing down.  With over 80,000 co-op students in Canada, organizations are able to tap into a remarkable resource of newly developed skill sets, while at the same time enhancing their workforce by meeting a variety of staffing requirements.  The Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) is a resource for co-op practitioners across Canada. Its on-line Co-op Directory is a useful tool for students and employers interested in co-operative education.  CAFCE is more than 490 members strong from colleges, universities, government and business who actively advocate and promote post-secondary co-operative education at the post-secondary level.

It is time to begin preparing to celebrate co-op successes and student achievements during Co-operative Education Week during 2013. Have an open house and invite all departments from your institution, submit articles to your local newspaper and school newspaper, send out a newsletter, do a show on the local cable channel, highlight co-op on your schools website, offer to speak at departmental, community meetings on the benefits of co-op..and don’t forget to take a couple of co-op students. Be creative and innovative. We are all experiencing economic uncertainties which is causing enormous challenges in job development and recruitment for co-op positions. It is important to get the co-op message out there and demonstrate that co-op is alive and well.

Media and Promotional Activities:

• Download the 2013 Flyer (.docx) to insert a message about your upcoming celebration and post;
• Publish an article in your local college/university newspaper featuring a Co-op Student at their workplace;
• Publish advertisements in local newspapers recognizing your Co-op Employers and Co-operative Education program;
• Feature a Co-op Student (or your Co-op Student of the Year recipient) on your campus radio station regarding their Co-operative Education experiences;
• List Co-op Employer profiles and their history with your Co-operative Education program in your internal/external newsletters as well as on your web site;
• Participate in a “Phone-Blitz” to encourage new companies/organizations to hire your Co-op Students;
• Attend a trade show or company seminar to network with industry professionals;
• Include Co-op Students when promoting your Co-operative Education program on/off campus;
• Set up a Co-op Awareness Booth on campus to attract non-Co-op Students at your college/university or local highschool.
• Create a contest

Social Activities:

• In the spirit of continuing partnerships, arrange a social event for Co-op Employers, Faculty, Staff, and Students to mingle. Activities may include hosting an Open-House, a Wine-and-Cheese Reception, a Co-op Party, a Coffee & Cake Break, a Pizza Party, a Fundraiser for a local charity, or a BBQ;
• Strengthen Co-op Employer and Student relationships by facilitating fun events such as a "Co-op Olympic Games" where they compete against each other;
• Recognize Co-op Employers at a breakfast/luncheon/dinner and invite an established Employer as your Keynote Speaker; and
• Host a Co-op Student Résumé Clinic or roundtable and invite Co-op Employers to participate.
• Have your mayor or provincial government proclaim March 18-22, 2013 as "National Co-operative Education Week". 

Co-op Student and Employer Recognition Awards:

• Create your own college/university Co-op Student the Year Award (Getting Started) and invite your Co-op Employers to nominate their outstanding Co-op Student employee(s);
• Honour your Co-op Student of the Year recipient with a cash award/plaque/certificate during National Co-operative Education Week;
• Nominate your college/university Co-op Student of the Year recipient for the national CAFCE Co-op Student of the Year Award;
• established Co-op Employers by recognizing them with a plaque/certificate during National Co-operative Education Week; and
• highlight your institution's Co-op Student of the Year winner on your institution's homepage.

We would be happy to add more ideas to the list of activities so please send your ideas to cafce@cafce.ca to share will your co-op colleagues.

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