Making the most of her time away from home, co-op student Michelle Quan uses her days off to travel and discover all that Western Canada has to offer, like this trip to the Alberta legislature in Edmonton.
Co-operative education allows students to experience new cultures and new places, to meet new people, and to see the world from a different perspective, says Kristen Morris, manager of co-op and workplace partnerships within the Office of Experiential Learning.
She points to biochemistry student Michelle Quan, currently completing a 16-month co-op with China National Offshore Oil Corporation Petroleum North America in Fort McMurray, Alta.
Working as a lab technician, Quan is responsible for handling and analyzing oil samples to ensure they meet predetermined standards, prior to shipping. She is expanding her professional network and developing career-related work experience while completing her degree.
“More than ever, employers value candidates who can demonstrate resourcefulness and flexibility within a changing environment,” says Morris. “Gaining this type of experience and allowing students to grow as individuals is exactly the impact we are hoping for when working with faculties to offer exceptional experiences for our UWindsor students.”
Third-year students of chemistry and biochemistry can apply for 8-, 12- or 16-month positions locally, nationally, or abroad when admitted to the co-op internship program. The deadline to apply for the next intake of the Chemistry & Biochemistry Co-op Internship is Friday, Sept. 20. Apply online at http://www.uwindsor.ca/coop-workplace-partnerships/301/our-programs.