UVic students who participate in any of the university's 224 distinct co-op degree programs now have something more in common—they're all taking part in programs accredited by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE), after UVic’s co-operative education programs were awarded accreditation on February 22, 2012.

CAFCE accreditation is recognized as a benchmark for excellence in co-operative education programming in Canada and is one of the only bodies in the world that accredit work-integrated education programs. Accreditation is awarded to institutions that demonstrate an institutional commitment to co-operative education as well as an established assessment model; in UVic’s case: the competency assessment framework.

“This is a big moment for UVic’s Co-operative Education Program and Career Services,” says Executive Director Norah McRae. “Many of our programs have been accredited since 1989, but we’ve been working hard to ensure that each and every one of them meet the high standards outlined by CAFCE when it comes to delivering work-integrated education that supports student learning and reflection.”

This is the first time that all of UVic’s 224 co-op degree programs have been accredited by CAFCE; this round of CAFCE accreditation will apply to UVic's programs for the next six years.

Seventy-seven Canadian post-secondary institutions are active members of CAFCE, which was formed in 1973 and strives to foster and advance post-secondary co-operative education in Canada. The association was inducted into the University of Cincinnati’s (where co-operative education was founded in North America in 1906) Co-operative Education Hall of Honor in February.