Each year, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Moose Jaw Campus celebrates National Co-operative
Education Week by awarding the Co-operative Education Student of the Year Award. This
award is intended to reward a Co-operative Education student who has demonstrated
excellence over the course of the academic year including time spent on work terms.
Selection is based on professional promise, academic achievement and practical application
of theory.
The 2015 Co-operative Education Student of the Year is Asim Cheema, a full-time student in the Business Accountancy diploma program at Moose Jaw Campus. In 2014, Asim completed three work terms with the Ministry of the Economy where he received strong recommendations for his exceptional work ethic and accounting acumen. Asim is currently in his fourth and final semester of studies at Moose Jaw Campus. His high academic standing, professional attitude, and extra-curricular volunteer activities make him a credit to Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
National Co-operative Education Week is March 15 to 21.
It is celebrated each year by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) to promote the value of Co-operative Education programs at its 83 university and colleges members across Canada.
Co-operative Education programs facilitate paid, training-related work terms for students in a variety of academic programs. It is a partnership between the student, the school, and industry which produces significant benefits for all three.
SIAST Co-operative Education currently provides Co-op programming for 14 academic programs in Business and Technology. Students are placed on work terms varying in total length from six to twelve months with employers all across Canada but mostly in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
In 2014, total work term earnings were $7,277,030 (excluding overtime). Average hourly earnings were $ 21.24 with average earnings of $ 14,130 per 4-month work term.
In addition to the significant academic and training benefits of Co-op, these earnings help students to finance their education.