Co-Operative Education

• Blends on-campus learning with practical applied learning, enhancing education with career related work experience before graduation;
• Takes work experience one step further by formally integrating a student's academic studies with their work experience with their work experience to become an educational model rather than a job placement strategy;
• Promotes continuous learning through the integration of classroom and applied work-based learning, preparing students by providing them with opportunities to operate as a learner/worker;
• Links work, academic and career objectives. 

Students alternate study terms with paid, monitored work-terms in professional industry, non-profit, private business, and public sector organizations. At NVIT, students enter Co-op at various points in their education depending on program requirements. While the summer semester is the most common time to complete work-terms, students registered in Diploma programs are required to complete work-terms in the fall and/or winter semesters to fulfil their Co-op designation. Co-op work-terms in the fall and winter semester provides students with additional experience they would not normally receive during the summer.

NVIT'S Co-operative Education Program option aims to provide graduates with:

• a well rounded education, enriched by practical application of classroom learning;
• opportunities to gain relevant employment skills and realistic expectations of the work force before graduation
• operations to test and gain broader understanding of career options, in a variety of employment settings;
• maturity and self esteem as productive members of the work force as well as confidence and skills developed working with others;
• documented practical experience, a resume, job search skills and a network of contacts upon graduation and financial remuneration which help defray educational costs

 Programs that are eligible for Co-Op:

• Associate of Arts-General; First Nations Studies; Criminology
• Administrative Studies Certificate
• Administrative Studies Diploma
• Office Administration Certificate
• Executive Assistant Diploma
• Environmental Resources Technology Certificate
• Environmental Resources Technology Diploma
• Culinary Arts Professional Cook Level 1
  

To achieve the Co-op designation at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, students must complete a minimum number of work terms in their certificate or diploma. Students in a two year diploma must complete a minimum of two work terms, while students in a one year diploma program must complete a minimum of one work term in order to receive their co-op designation.