A new all-day conference Saturday, September 30, will prepare students for success in their co-operative education experiences.

Transform 2017 is billed as a “guide to becoming a professional with a purpose,” and is streamed for students in business, engineering, and science programs.

Organizer Clementa Stan, program co-op coordinator in Co-operative Education and Workplace Partnerships, is expecting 500 students to participate. The day will feature panels of co-op employers, instruction on preparing resumes and cover letters, and training in interview skills.

“This is exciting for us; it’s the first time ever we’ll be hosting this event,” she says. “Our students will acquire an understanding of what employers are looking for and start building job-readiness skills.”

Chris Busch, acting executive director of experiential learning, calls the conference an example of how the University of Windsor endeavours to make students “career ready” by integrating on-going professional development throughout their entire co-operative education programs.

“Most incoming co-op students have never applied or interviewed for a paid position with a major corporation and need support to increase their confidence and ultimately secure their desired placement,” he says. “By bringing them together, the Transform 2017 co-op conference kick-starts a learning community and network that clearly demonstrates our collective commitment to their success and work-integrated learning at the University.”

Find more information on the Co-operative Education and Workplace Partnerships website.