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Commerce Co-op and Internships

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CO-OP OPTION

Laurentian University’s School of Commerce offers Cooperative education option as part of the French-language Honours Bachelor of Commerce program. 

Cooperative education is a partnership between the student, the employer and the University, contributing to a well-rounded Commerce and Business education. The practical application of classroom learning through cooperative education allows students to examine their career options in more depth. 

The program combines alternating study sessions with business placements. The School incorporates theory and practice, giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to the business world, acquire work experience, as well as earn some money.

 

If you would like to get more information on the Co-op program, please contact:

Prof. Patricia Orozco

Internship /Coop Program Coordinator

School of Commerce and Administration

Office: F411

Phone:(705) 675-1151 ext. 2132

Fax: (705) 671-6518

Email: POrozco@laurentian.ca

 

 

The Placements

The duration of the first work term is 14 to 16 weeks, and the second 28 to 32 weeks. The Coop periods are paid work terms within a company or an organization; these allow students to develop their aptitudes in one of the main commerce fields.

The table below provides an overview of the each placement and its specificities.

 

 

1st placement
(4 months)

2nd placement
(8 months)

How does it work?

  • Full time placement at the end of second year of studies

  • Duration 14 to 16 weeks (April to August)

  • Full time placement at during the third year of studies

  • Duration 28 to 32 weeks (January to August)

What type of placement is it?

 

  • Helps the student familiarize himself/herself with the organization’s realities and day-to-day operations.

  • Student may perform several tasks in various business areas, or specialize in one specific area if he/she so desires.

  • Student is expected to contribute to the organization in a more specialized area, such as finance, marketing, etc.

 

 

What is the objective of the placement?

 

  • Improve general skills, such as management skills, organizational skills, etc.

  • Apply theoretical material learnt in the first 2 years of study.

  • Acquire transferable work skills which will improve his or her employability and integration to the workplace.

 

On the academic side…

  • Equivalent to 3 credit course

  • Equivalent to 6 credit course

 

Program Calendar

The following calendar presents the commerce program with the Coop option. Fall sessions run from September to December, winter terms from January to April, while summer terms are from May to August.

 

 

Fall

Winter

Summer

Year 1

Study 1

Study 2

6 credits

Year 2

Study 3

Study 4

Work A

Year 3

Study 5

Work B

Year 4

Study 6

Study 7

 

 

Employers

 Employer Benefits of Hiring Coop Students

  • Meet short-term staffing needs resulting from vacation schedules, peak work loads, transfers, promotions, training commitments or special projects;

  • Access a temporary workforce of intelligent, educated and motivated people;

  • Reduced hiring and recruitment costs, as much of the selection process occurs at the University;

  • Opportunity to observe and evaluate potential candidates for future employment;

  • Opportunity to conduct a 4 or 8 month special project;

  • Allows, down the road, the recruitment of employees that will already be familiar with the company’s culture, activities, personnel, and surrounding;

  • Coop students bring enthusiasm as well as new ideas, techniques and approaches that can benefit the workplace.

 

Why hire a Coop student?

At Laurentian University’s School of Commerce, you will find students who are ready and willing to work for you! These upper-year students will meet your expectations because they:

  • have completed two years of study before their first placement;

  • have an average of 70% or higher;

  • are bilingual;

  • can work for a period of 4 or 8 months; and

  • specialise in different areas of commerce such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, international business, and small business and entrepreneurship.

 

Students who wish to participate in the Coop option must meet the University's criteria, have taken and passed a series of mandatory courses, have a minimum average of 70%, and pass an interview with the admission committee to the Coop option.

 

Students are eager to learn

The students are eager to learn about your company and the various industries in order to identify possible career options in their chosen field; they wish to know you! By creating links with students, you can profit from various advantages.

What is the difference between a Coop placement and a “regular” internship?

  • Coop students have gone through a selection process while all students who have completed their second year of studies (Core year) can complete an internship

  • The Coop students’ main goal is to get a job through their placements, which increase their motivation.

  • The second Coop placement is completed on a full time basis during the school year (8 month duration).

  • Coop students must be compensated. Financial help is available to help you compensate hire a coop student. Take advantage of a maximum of a $1 000 tax credit for cooperative education per student per term. Please go to the Ontario Ministry of Revenue website to get further information regarding this tax credit. Several government programs are available and can help you hire a student.

 

Commitment 

As a Coop employer you have the responsibility to:

  • provide the Coop Program Coordinator with a job description, indicating the position description, the tasks, the work period, the number of hours of work, as well as the hourly wages;

  • sign a contract with the student

  • provide a welcoming environment that promotes learning, as well as apply the working standards set by the Ministry of Labour;

  • welcome the Coop student with an orientation session and prepare the student’s co-workers to the student’s arrival;

  • supervise and guide the student. Any problem must be reported to the Coop coordinator.

  • compensate the Coop student. We suggest that you consult the compensation guidelines for Coop students provided by the Treasury Board of Canada. However, you are free to set your own hourly rate.

 

How to proceed

I would like to hire a Coop student, what should I do?

  1. Prepare and send a job posting to the Coop program coordinator. Submission of job postings is done via email to the Coop program coordinator.

  2. The Coop program coordinator then reviews and approves posting. A general rule is that position should not include more than 20% “clerical” repetitive tasks (e.g. cashier, data entry, receptionist, etc.).

  3. The Coop program coordinator distributes the approved posting to all Coop students via email. Only students who have been accepted in the Coop option will receive the notice.

  4. Interested Coop students apply directly with organization – following the organization’s specific application requirements – and inform the Coop program coordinator of their application.

  5. The Coop program coordinator is at the organization’s service to facilitate interviews or provide assistance as required. 

 

Once the Coop student has been hired by the organization and during the placement…

  1. The organization’s supervisor and the Coop student sign a Coop contract.

  2. The internship/coop program coordinator follows up with the organization on a regular basis and works with the organization to address any potential issue.

  3. The internship/coop program coordinator follows up with the Coop student on a regular basis.

 

At the end of the placement

At the end of placement, the Coop student submits a report to the Organization’s supervisor first and then to the Coop program coordinator. This report should provide meaningful information on the placement experience and the link to theories learnt in school. The supervisor can ask the student to modify or remove confidential information, before the report is submitted to the Coop program coordinator

The Organization’s supervisor evaluates the student’s work as per the evaluation form provided by the internship coordinator.

The Internship/Coop program coordinator marks the reports and assigns a final grade – Pass or Fail – based on the supervisor’s evaluation and the report.

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Internship

The School of Commerce and Administration Internship Program is a partnership between the school, the enterprise and the student.

The Internship Program offers students a unique opportunity to engage in a structured learning experience within their field. It is designed to provide the student with practical experience, giving them the opportunity to apply classroom work and theory to the challenges of organizational life. This ability to integrate classroom and field experiences will prepare them in commencing or continuing their career.

Through the program, prospective employers have the opportunity to work with dynamic, motivated and highly enthusiastic students.

 

If you would like to get more information on the Internship program, please contact:

Prof. Patricia Orozco

Internship/Coop Program Coordinator

School of Commerce and Administration

Office: F411

Phone:(705) 675-1151 ext. 2132

Fax: (705) 671-6518

Email: POrozco@laurentian.ca 

 

FOR EMPLOYERS

The Internship program is dedicated to providing employers with one of our most valuable and precious resources, our students The students participating in the program have met our eligibility requirements and have completed a minimum of two years of university studies towards their Honours Bachelor of Commerce. These students have demonstrated their knowledge in several areas of management including finance, accounting, human resources, marketing and operations management. As such, the students represent valuable resources who can provide unlimited potential and bring considerable benefits to employers.

The addition of intelligent, educated and highly motivated temporary employees

  • Interns will supplement existing staff during peak periods and fill in for permanent employees when needed (i.e/ vacations, leaves of absence, etc…)

  • Interns are excellent candidates for undertaking and completing special projects

  • Interns represent a cost effective alternative to hiring permanent

  • Organizations will have access to interns with knowledge of current state of the art management

  • The organization will have access to interns who are versed in the latest technology and software

  • The organization can observe and assess candidates’ suitability for possible permanent positions in the future

  • Students who become permanent employees will already have first-hand experience in the organization

 

How to proceed to hire a student?

Organizations interested in hiring an intern must submit a job proposal form indicating the job description and requirements to the Coordinator by email. The placement consists of 560 hours which can be completed over a period of 16 weeks full-time or on a part-time basis throughout the year. The placement may or may not be paid. All job proposals must be approved by the coordinator. 

 

Potential Placement Work Terms for completion of 560 hours.

 Full time:

  • May to August/September

  • September to December

  • January to April

Part time:

  • Throughout the year for completion of 560 hours on part-time basis

 

Student Placement & Contract

Approved positions will be posted and sent by email to all 2nd, 3rd and 4th year Commerce students. Students who are interested in the position must apply in writing directly with the employer. Upon hiring, a three-way Internship Contract signed by the parties will outline the specific terms of the internship.

 

Objectives for the Student

  • Develop transferable work skills such as: communication, teamwork, expertise in a new domain, self-discipline, and image management.

  • Develop self-directed learning skills.

  • Develop a deeper appreciation of management theory through experiencing its practical everyday applications.

  • Improve employability profile in preparation for graduation.

  • Develop a broader image of the career marketplace.

  • Develop a more informed basis for making initial career choices. 

Legalities; The Intern is subject to the employment conditions of the employer but is considered to be a student for University administrative purposes. The employer must be minimally governed by all applicable university policies (e.g. harassment). The employer’s status is equivalent to adjunct faculty with similar rights and responsibilities.

 

FOR STUDENTS

The internship results from a partnership between the school, the enterprise and the student. The intern's educational process is shared responsibility with roles for all partners involved. The learning objectives are established by the School, in cooperation with the enterprise partner, to ensure these objectives are met. 

COMM 4995 is a 6 credit elective course which is available to students who have successfully completed all 2000 mandatory courses. The internship placement must be for 560 hours, either on a full time or part time basis. The placement can be paid or unpaid.

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