Co-operative Education

How the Program Works

How much you could get

• 50% of minimum wage for each project
• Not-for-profit organizations may be eligible for 100% of minimum wage rate
• SECPAP subsidy does not cover expenses related to mandatory employment contribution expenses (MERC) such as E.I., C.P.P., vacation pay, and workers’ compensation.

Program Eligibility

• Registered Canadian businesses
• Not-for-profit organizations (funded at 100% of minimum wage)
• Must be operating in Newfoundland and Labrador with 100 or fewer employees
• Federal, Provincial, Territorial Governments and their agencies do not qualify
• Municipal Governments with 100 or fewer employees are eligible
• Priority will be given to, but is not limited, to first time applicants
• Positions funded must not be financed under any other sources of assistance from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Project submissions are to be directed toward a particular field of study
• Are committed to paying the student for the role
• Provide a work experience that meets the Co-op minimum requirements (12 weeks and/or 420 hours)
• Immediate family members are normally not eligible to be hired in firms owned or operated by relatives
• Employers are eligible to hire both domestic and international students

• Must be enrolled in a College of the North Atlantic’s Co-operative education program
• Must be academically eligible for a work term
• Must be 16 years of age or older and must be eligible to work in Canada
• Who are immediate family members of applicants are not eligible to receive funding
• Work term must be located in Newfoundland and Labrador

Placements

• Stacking with federal funding is allowed, but it’s the employer’s responsibility to disclose receipt of funding to other funding sources
• Total combined funding cannot exceed 100%
• Funding is available for a maximum of 12 weeks up to 35 hours per week.

Process

• Funding is available for a maximum of 12 weeks and 35 hours per week but cannot exceed beyond the program work term length or the semester end date as set by the College of the North Atlantic
• It is the employer’s responsibility to submit a SECPAP application if they wish to be considered for funding
• Once the work term begins organization will submit reimbursement claim forms with proof of payment (e.g. photocopied paycheck stubs) to the Co-op Office. All required documentation will be provided by the Co-op Office
• Final claims must be submitted no later than 2 weeks after the end of the work term. Delays may result in claims not being processed
• Instructions on how to submit claims will be included in the SECPAP information letter sent to you after your application is approved and processed

Program Eligibility

• May include registered Canadian businesses, not-for-profit, hospitals, long-term care facilities and post-secondary institutions (universities, colleges, and polytechnics). Specific employer groups will depend on the SWP Partner.
• Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Municipal Government do NOT qualify.
• Are committed to paying the student for the role.
• Are willing to provide a quality learning experience to a PSE student.
• Have the financial capacity to pay the student for the duration of the placement in full (the wage subsidy will be administered after receiving the final pay stub at the end of the placement).

• Registered in a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution
• Required to complete a co-op work term
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. 
  • International students with a work/study permit are not eligible.

Placements

• Stacking with provincial funding is allowed, but it is the employer’s responsibility to disclose receipt of funding to other funding sources
• Funding cannot exceed 100%
• Funding is available for a maximum of 16 weeks
• A placement cannot be funded by this program and another source of federal funding, such as Canada Summer Jobs, Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), or any other delivery partner of the Student Work Placement Program

SWP Program Contact

1. Biotalent Canada
2. Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC) - AgiTalent
3. Canadian Council for Aerospace and Aviation (CCAA)
4. Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)
5. Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC)
6. Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) – Empowering Futures
7. Environmental Careers Organization Canada (ECO Canada) – Student Work Placement
8. Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
9. Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC)
10. Information and Communication Technology Council (ICTC) – WIL Digital Subsidy
11. Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MIHR) – Gearing Up
12. Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) – Talent Opportunities Program (Top)
13. Technation – Career Ready Program
14. Tourism HR Canada (THRC)
15. Trucking HR Canada
16. Venture for Canada – Internship Program

Benefits of joining a Co-operative Education program

Students will be able to:

• Network with professionals from their industry
• Apply your classroom learning
• Develop valuable workplace skills
• Earn money to help with tuition costs
• Explore different career opportunities
• Build a resume by adding relevant work experience
• Access job postings only available to work-integrated learning students
• Gain perspective on their industry
• Receive guidance and assistance with job search searches

• Be actively engaged in the Co-op process including all pre-work term, active work term and post-work term requirements.
• Maintain communication with the Co-op Office and employers in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate professionalism in all interactions with the Co-op Office, the employer, co-workers and clients.
• Demonstrate a commitment to developing and progressing in their own learning objectives.
• Be responsible for their own job search plan with assistance from the Co-op Office.
• Abide by the CEWIL Canada Ethical Recruitment Guidelines

• Provide high standards of technical learning in an inclusive, accessible, safe and welcoming environment through classroom learning
• Facilitate employability skills development through the Co-op Office
• Co-ordinate transparent and unbiased job competition processes
• Develop industry partnerships for Co-op work term opportunities
• Monitor and support students while they are on work term
• Abide by the CEWIL Canada Ethical Recruitment Guidelines

• Provide program relevant experience
• Provide opportunities for the co-op student to learn by doing
• Mentor and guide students on professional practice and skill development in their field
• Support students in completing their work term requirements and assignments
• Communicate with the student and Co-op Office in a timely manner when issues or concerns arise
• Evaluate the students job performance fairly based on the students skill and experience level in accordance with Co-op requirements
• Abide by the CEWIL Canada Ethical Recruitment Guidelines

• Students bring new ideas, fresh perspectives, and enthusiasm to the workplace.
• Co-op programs offer access to diversely talented and highly motivated students, reducing recruitment costs.
• Co-op students are short-term employees, which can be helpful to businesses in temporary times of need.
• Co-op terms may be an opportunity to evaluate a potential long-term employee before committing: many employers choose to hire co-op students after graduation.
• Co-op students can work on a wide range of assignments, from specific projects to general support: see Co-operative Education – Experience Excellence and Co-op Program Specific Information Sheets for examples.

• Start with a conversation – contact a Co-op Coordinator to discuss the employer's needs.  A Co-op Coordinator will be able to identify which program(s) would best fit that need.
• Notification of positions are then sent directly to the programs(s) of the employer's choice.
• The employer reviews candidates, selects students they wish to interview, makes arrangements and conducts the interviews and makes job offers directly to the student.
• Please advise the Co-op Office of any job offers that have been extended so we can ensure the student meets the acceptance deadline.

• Start with a conversation – contact a Co-op Coordinator to discuss the employer’s needs. A Co-op Coordinator will be able to identify which program(s) would best fit that need.
• Positions are then posted directly to the students in the program(s) of the employer’s choice. The Co-op Office will collect the applications and send them back to the employer.
  • The Co-op Office usually sets a deadline for applications of one week.
• The employer reviews candidates, selects students they wish to interview and advises the Co-op Office.
• The Co-op Office will then contact the selected students and confirm an interview time.
  • Employers have the choice of using CNA facilities to conduct interviews, using a Skype for Business system to conduct on-line or telephone interviews, or conducting interviews at the employer’s location.
• Interviews are conducted by the employer.
• Employers then advise the Co-op Office of who they would like to make an offer to.
• The Co-op Office confirms with the student if they will be accepting the offer and advises the employer.

• The employer provides a copy of the job description to the student or Co-op Office.
• The job details are reviewed by the Co-op Office, and if suitable, will be approved by a Co-op Coordinator.
• A Co-op Coordinator may contact the employer if there are areas to confirm and to explain the Co-op requirements.
• Once a student is confirmed for a position, they will be removed from further job competitions.
• Student coordinated positions are NOT shared with other students unless the employer request that the job posting be sent to other students.