Applying for Accreditation & Benefits
Accreditation standards establish Co-operative Education as a valid and valuable educational strategy and provide guidance in ensuring quality Co-operative Education programming across Canada. The accreditation criteria upon which the Council bases its decisions have been developed based on the CEWIL Canada's Definition of Co-operative Education as written in the CEWIL Canada Bylaws.
Co-operative Education Definition
"Co-operative Education Program" means a program which alternates periods of academic study with periods of work experience in appropriate fields of business, industry, government, social services and the professions in accordance with the following criteria:
- Each work term is developed in partnership with the employer and approved by the co-operative education program as a suitable learning environment;
- The student is engaged in productive work for which the student receives remuneration;
- The co-op curriculum supports student learning goals, personal evaluation and reflection;
- The student's performance in the workplace is supervised and evaluated by the student's employer;
- The student's progress during their work term is monitored by the co-operative education program;
- Both work and academic terms are full-time and follow a formalized sequence. The total amount of co-op work experience is normally at least 30% of the time spent in academic study. For programs of two years or less the total amount may be a minimum of 25%. A work term is defined as a minimum of 12 weeks and/or 420 hours full-time paid experience;
- Co-op Programs begin and end on an academic term;
- The student completing multiple work terms is normally exposed to the work environment during more than one season of the year.
NEW TO ACCREDITATION CRITERIA:
The following was approved at the CEWIL Canada, formerly known as CAFCE, Annual Meeting October 29, 2015:
Whereby the total amount of coop work experience is normally at least 30% of the time spent in academic study, but for programs of two years or less, the total amount may be a minimum of 25%. For programs to meet the 25% requirement, a work term is defined as a minimum 12 weeks and/or 420 hours full-time, paid experience.