United Nations (UN) SDGs put in action by Co-op
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a priority at the University of Victoria. At their core, the SDGs are about ending poverty and inequality and providing opportunity and support for all.
How co-op is addressing the 17 SDGs
Here are the initiatives, programs and experiences facilitated through UVic’s Co-op and Career team that align with and contribute to the SDGs.
- UVic Co-op and Career supports the World Partnership Walk each year to engage the community to fight global poverty and educate about global food security. Thanks to the work of UVic faculty champions, the university raises more than any other post-secondary institution towards this goal. UVic students are able to volunteer to organize the UVic walk and gain co-curricular record credit at UVic for this experience. Here's a profile of a faculty champion.
- UVic's Strategic Framework Experiential Learning Fund (SF-ELF) helps businesses to hire co-op students, including a wage subsidy for not-for-profits and Indigenous community organizations to cover a portion of the cost of hiring a co-op student for a work term (up to $5,000).
- In 2022/23, Co-op and Career wrapped up the CanWork pilot program, which supported UVic students who identify as having a disability or mental health challenges to take part in paid, degree-related work experience. Job coaches helped students master their tasks, achieve independence and contribute to the workplace. Eighty-eight students took part in the pilot. Support for students continued into 2023 outside of the pilot through the ongoing accessibility and inclusion co-op coordinator.
- The Indigenous Co-op Program at UVic is a partnership between Co-op and Career and the Office of Indigenous Academic & Community Engagement and provides culturally relevant co-op work term opportunities and one-on-one support to Indigenous students at UVic.
- UVic led the creation of the Indigenous Co-op/Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Resource HUB (another project funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education), which developed 13 resources and 4 videos that support Indigenous student access, retention and success in WIL programs and placements. The resources include resources on: (1) self-identifying on a job application, (2) tokenism, (3) partnership and representation, (4) program accessibility, and (5) responding to the TRC Calls to Action.
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A variety of new roles were added to the Co-op and Career team in 2022/23, including employer development officers focused on equity and diversity as well as support for the optional and professional program areas, an equity and diversity career advisor, and an accessibility and inclusion co-op coordinator.
- All students and employers can access support related to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
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Co-op and Career piloted an innovative AI software called VMock in 2022/23 to expand the options for students to gain individualized feedback on their résumés, interviews and more. VMock provides UVic students with accessible and interactive career-readiness support that can be accessed anywhere and at any time. Students are now able to upload their résumé or provide information about their upcoming interview and VMock will provide on-thespot feedback and sample questions. The software provides vital scaffolding to students as they search for work and prepare for interviews. This launch was supported by the Co-op and Career’s curriculum revamp team, which developed web-based curriculum to help students use the tool.
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In July 2022, UVic Co-op launched two new websites—one focused on co-operative education for students and employers and the other focused on helping students develop their career pathways. These projects streamlined the Co-op and Career web presence from 400+ pages and 250+ PDFs into approximately 200 pages that include easy-to-read, digitally accessible curricular resources. The websites were a result of an 8-month project led by University Communications and Marketing that included extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.
- A series of new online resources was created in 2022/23 to support students
who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge. This included content to help students determine if, when and how to self-disclose and hold conversations around accommodation. It also included developing resources to help employers move towards creating more inclusive, safe and equitable workplaces. Much of this content was added to co-op preparation courses and the web-based career development curriculum.
- Co-op students work for municipal, provincial and federal government agencies, often contributing to research that informs social policy.
- Three new committees continued work in 2022/23: a cross-unit committee of Co-op and Career staff members struck to identify and address opportunities related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as a committee focused on developing a revised curriculum for students, and one focused on accessibility.
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From 2019 to 2022, BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training invested $14.5 million to support co-op and work-integrated learning (COWIL) opportunities throughout the province. One of these projects was a partnership with Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster to identify ways to address equity, diversity and inclusion concerns in the engineering and computer science sectors. This multi-faceted project concluded in 2023 and included a survey of co-op students and employers, a pilot use of software to de-bias the job application process and more. The results of this project will inform how post-secondaries and industry build and improve digital skill development.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 33 employer organizations (or 5%) were actively working to support UN SDG 1. 18 employers (or 2%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 1.
Student experiences
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Fourth-year economics student Daniella Lerat spent a work term as a sales and customer support co-op term with Joni, a Victoria-based company that focuses on sustainable menstruation care. Joni focuses on providing an equitable and inclusive environment—a perfect fit to Daniella, who was a pilot participant in Co-op and Career’s CanWork program, which supported students who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge to take part in co-op. The program paired Daniella with a job coach to jumpstart the job application process and provide support along the way. “Having a job coach that I could confide in about any anxiety about all the steps of the application process was so helpful,” says Daniella. “It was his kind of support that I really valued.”
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Second-year political science student Kenzie Ross worked as a shelter allocation coordinator with EuroRelief, an NGO that operates within Mavrovouni Refugee Camp in Lesvos, she put her experience and studies into practice and learned to “expect the unexpected.” Kenzie worked to help incoming asylum-seekers find a designated place to live and coordinated longer-term shelter plans inside the camp.
Goal 2.5.1:
- UVic Co-op and Career supports the World Partnership Walk each year to engage the community to fight global poverty and educate about global food security. Thanks to the work of UVic faculty champions, the university raises more than any other post-secondary institution towards this goal. UVic students are able to volunteer to organize the UVic walk and gain co-curricular record credit at UVic for this experience. Here's a profile of a faculty champion.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 32 employer organizations (or 4%)were actively working to support UN SDG 2. Within these organizations,14 employers (or 2%)believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 2.
Student experiences
- On her fourth co-op work term, Christine joined the software development team at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) Sidney Centre for Plant Health, Canada’s only post-entry quarantine research and diagnostic facility for grapevines, fruit trees and small fruit. The Centre tests plants for virus to ensure plants are healthy for import, domestic movement, and export from Canada.
- Science student Chloe Leroy worked with the Universidad Catolica del Maule (UCM) in Chile to research ways to address deadly salmon pathogens. Her research will help scientists develop ways to treat antibiotic-resistant strains in farmed or wild populations of salmon.
- Biochemistry co-op student Yunkun Li gained real-world experience at the Agassiz Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, working with renowned research scientist Dr. Aimé Messiga. Together, they create soil and nutrient improvements leading to better crop yields, more sustainable practices and environmental protection.
- UVic Co-op has strong relationships with provincial government in the health information science sector to address the health and well-being of our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Co-op and Career partnered with the Faculty of Engineering to successfully apply for funding through Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada’s iHUB program. The funding is part of the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Program and supported 65 students as they consulted with industry partners and community members to develop an online course for coastal communities working engage in kelp aquaculture. In collaboration with experts, the students developed online learning materials and peer support forums that follow appropriate onscreen protocols for engagement with Indigenous communities. Additionally, the computer science students created a satellite data system to track ideal kelp growth areas. The end result of this project was a kelp portal on the Compute Canada cloud computing platform.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 163 employer organizations (or 23%) were actively working to support UN SDG 3. Within these organizations, 114 employers (or 13%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 3.
Student experiences
- On her fourth co-op work term, Christine joined the software development team at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) Sidney Centre for Plant Health, Canada’s only post-entry quarantine research and diagnostic facility for grapevines, fruit trees and small fruit. The Centre tests plants for virus to ensure plants are healthy for import, domestic movement, and export from Canada.
- Physical health and recreation student Jacob Cook jumped at the opportunity to work with the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence facility (PISE), a local non-profit organization that creates active living opportunities for children and adults of all levels and abilities.
- UVic biology and psychology student Sarah Jones wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. As a hand hygiene ambassador for Island Health, the co-op student was hired to promote and analyze hand hygiene processes in Greater Victoria. Jones was part of the infection prevention and control team, which has been working to improve patients’ quality of care and to support healthcare workers. She performed close to 1,500 hand hygiene observations at three different Island Health sites.
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- UVic led the creation of the Indigenous Co-op/Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Resource HUB (another project funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education), which developed 13 resources and 4 videos that support Indigenous student access, retention and success in WIL programs and placements. The resources include resources on: (1) self-identifying on a job application, (2) tokenism, (3) partnership and representation, (4) program accessibility, and (5) responding to the TRC Calls to Action.
-
A variety of new roles were added to the Co-op and Career team in 2022/23, including employer development officers focused on equity and diversity as well as support for the optional and professional program areas, an equity and diversity career advisor, and an accessibility and inclusion co-op coordinator.
- Career Services runs regular workshops to help students decide when and how to self-disclose their needs to employers, as well as workshops on self-advocacy and work/life balance.
- All students and employers can access support related to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
-
Co-op and Career piloted an innovative AI software called VMock in 2022/23 to expand the options for students to gain individualized feedback on their résumés, interviews and more. VMock provides UVic students with accessible and interactive career-readiness support that can be accessed anywhere and at any time. Students are now able to upload their résumé or provide information about their upcoming interview and VMock will provide on-thespot feedback and sample questions. The software provides vital scaffolding to students as they search for work and prepare for interviews. This launch was supported by the Co-op and Career’s curriculum revamp team, which developed web-based curriculum to help students use the tool.
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In July 2022, UVic Co-op launched two new websites—one focused on co-operative education for students and employers and the other focused on helping students develop their career pathways. These projects streamlined the Co-op and Career web presence from 400+ pages and 250+ PDFs into approximately 200 pages that include easy-to-read, digitally accessible curricular resources. The websites were a result of an 8-month project led by University Communications and Marketing that included extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.
- A series of new online resources was created in 2022/23 to support students
who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge. This included content to help students determine if, when and how to self-disclose and hold conversations around accommodation. It also included developing resources to help employers move towards creating more inclusive, safe and equitable workplaces. Much of this content was added to co-op preparation courses and the web-based career development curriculum.
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Along with elevating Career Services into its own website brand, we also created a term Associate Director position for Career Services. Using funding from carry-forward funds, this position will focus on assessing the leadership needs for this team, looking at different models to bridge the career educators across all departments to create a newly envisioned Career Services team, drafting a fulsome job description for the position and exploring different models of Career Services at comparator universities.
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In May 2022, David Busch joined the Co-op and Career team as the Indigenous co-op coordinator focused on supporting Indigenous students throughout their co-op journeys. David, who is Nisga’a and Gitxsan as well as Scottish and German, also worked closely with the staff in the Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement office. In his first year in the position, David helped relaunch the Indigenous International Work-Integrated Learning Exchange Program, planned two mock interview clinics and career fairs for Indigenous students and hosted a series of Breakfasts in the House for students and staff.
- In 2022/23, our events team collaborated with UBC and SFU to launch the West Coast Virtual Career Fair, a series of online career fairs. More than 1,00 students and 600 employers took part in this series of online career fairs.
- Networking events like the Success in the humanities and fine arts event
- Mock interview clinic and career fair for Indigenous students
- Employer information sessions
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We continued to offer regular career workshops, which have historically been strongly attended, and more deliberately timed résumé and interview workshops. Collaborations eased the online transition and support for students. For example, in conjunction with International Student Services we delivered workshops for international students searching for jobs during COVID-19.
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Our online career exploration program, Career Clarity, was designed and launched for senior students, recent graduates and alumni underwent a substantial revision during the summer following the onset of COVID-19. We switched to a six-week scheduled program rather than self-paced delivery and added several activities designed to facilitate meaningful reflection.
- UVic Co-op and Career facilitates cultural intelligence (CQ) training based on the Cultural Intelligence Model. All staff receive this training, and co-op students learn about CQ during their Introduction to Professional Practice (IPP) course. Students outside of co-op also have access to this curriculum.
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In 2022/23, Co-op and Career’s events and communications team assessed the impact and reach of in-person and virtual events from the past several years. Using this data and responding to reduced staffing resources, the team developed a plan to shift how we deliver career-focused information and programming from a one-time events format to an evergreen podcast format. The team recorded 8 podcast episodes with alumni and career educators and will launch the “Work It: a career exploration podcast” in September 2023.
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Co-op and Career partners with Camosun to promote co-op as a hiring strategy for local employers through agreements with the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and WestShore Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members hire students and students who contribute to the local economy and often find full-time employment with Chamber members after graduation.
- Continuing into 2023, BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training invested $14.5 million to support co-op and work-integrated learning (COWIL) opportunities throughout the province. One of these projects was a partnership with Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster to identify ways to address equity, diversity and inclusion concerns in the engineering and computer science sectors. This multi-faceted project concluded in 2023 and included a survey of co-op students and employers, a pilot use of software to de-bias the job application process and more. The results of this project will inform how post-secondaries and industry build and improve digital skill development.
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A strong relationship has been developed with Continuing Studies over the past several years. Topics of mutual interest include: Micro-credentials (that is, the concept of partnering on providing micro-WIL experiences for new graduates and mid-career learners); WILL (that is, the concept of partnering on work-integrated and life-long learning); and Career Services (we have initiated a Service-Level Agreement with Continuing Studies to provide a dedicated Career Educator for DCS for students studying in their English Language programs). This SLA model is currently being explored with other units.
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In the fall of 2022, Co-op and Career team created a new career educator role focused on supporting students taking part in Continuing Studies programming. This is the first time that Continuing Studies students have had access to one-on-one career development support. Students were also given access to the Co-op and Career portal where they can explore and apply for job postings, register for events and book appointments.
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Following a multi-year gap due to COVID-19, UVic’s unique Indigenous International Work-Integrated Learning Exchange Program was able to begin again. The program sees Indigenous students studying at UVic complete co-op work terms in Australia while Indigenous students from Australian partner institutions take courses and participate in a community internship at UVic. Indigenous students Kennedy Rolston (Métis Nation, civil engineering) and Sophia Speier (Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw from Kingcome Inlet, psychology and biology) traveled to Macquarie University’s Malanga Muru in Australia. UVic Indigenous Co-op Coordinator David Busch, Associate Director of Indigenous and International Strategic Initiatives Karima Ramji and LE,NONET Experiential Learning Coordinator Renée Livernoche from UVic’s Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement office also travelled to Australia to meet with the students and the Australian partners and to present at the Australian Collaborative Education Network Conference.
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The Indigenous and International Strategic Initiatives team within Co-op and Career resumed international travel in 2022/23 following more than a two-year pause in response to COVID-19. In September 2022, the team traveled to Barcelona to meet with trade commissionaires from Spain, Italy and France as well as existing partners from universities in France, Germany, Belgium and more. In March 2023, the team traveled to Vietnam and Thailand to meet with Canadian Chambers of Commerce and other partners about hiring co-op students. They also presented several sessions at the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference on topics ranging from the benefits and process of international work experiences for co-op students to a partnership between UVic, VIU and the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada that supports the World Partnership Walk.
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Over the past year, Co-op and Career staff have worked in consultation with UVic Human Resources to draft a vision and mission statement along with values and strategic goals for the next 3- to 5-year period. This work has been done in concert with the development of unit and departmental operational plans and in alignment with the development of the university’s new strategic plan. Co-op and Career’s overall vision is to support “career-ready graduates responding to the needs of community, society and our planet” and our mission is to “prepare students for the future of work.”
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 102 co-op employer organizations (or 14%) were actively working to support UN SDG 4. Within these organizations, 64 employers (or 7%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 4.
Student experiences
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Kennedy Rolston (left, civil engineering and physics) is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria. Sophia Speier (right, biology and psychology) is Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxz from Kingcome Inlet, which is part of the Kwakwaka-wakw Nation. In 2022, both students travelled to MacQuarie University’s Walanga Muru in Australia to complete co-op terms as part of the Indigenous International Work-Integrated Learning Exchange Program. “The experience of cross-cultural sharing, learning about each other’s histories and supporting each other is something that I will hold with me for the restof my life,” says Kennedy.
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For physics and astronomy student Tess Grindlay, a summer spent working with the Canadian Space Agency on the James Webb Space Telescope was nothing short of a dream job. Tess contributed to projects supporting the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope’s first set of fully calibrated images and spectroscopic data. She’ll continue working with the Canadian Space Agency part-time while completing her fourth year of study.
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Pet owners bringing their furry friends into Dand Veterinary Clinics in Fernwood and James Bay last summer were greeted by self-proclaimed animal-lover Paige Garat (biology), who helped ensure appointments went smoothly for pets and people alike. From scheduling appointments and answering phones to taking X-rays and recording vitals, Paige developed skills she’ll take forward as she pursues a career in veterinary science
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When international student Muskan Hans began her studies in Canada in 2016, she struggled with physical and mental health issues while far from her home in India. While Muskan had doubts about whether she would succeed in co-op, her first work term with BC Pension Corporation built her confidence and communication skills as she brought her adaptability and technical expertise to the team. Initially hired in quality assurance, Muskan’s diligence and eagerness to learn led to her taking on more responsibility across a number of job roles, including as a business analyst—by the end of her work term, she even provided coverage for her manager during his vacation. “I’ve learned that how you see yourself can really impact your success,” Muskan says. “When you say ‘yes’ to opportunities, it can change your whole perspective. When I look at myself now, I can see my own success and look forward to my future.”
Student experiences gained through the WACE Global Challenge
The WACE Global Challenge is an experiential learning project that connects student teams from across the world with organizations to create sustainable impact initiatives. In 2020 and 21, UVic students participated in team-based projects addressing several SDGs. This aligns with 4.3.4 as an example of educational outreach activities beyond campus.
Goal 5.6.8: Policies protecting those reporting discrimination:
- All students and employers can access support related to equity, diversion and inclusion in the workplace.
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Co-op and Career piloted an innovative AI software called VMock in 2022/23 to expand the options for students to gain individualized feedback on their résumés, interviews and more. VMock provides UVic students with accessible and interactive career-readiness support that can be accessed anywhere and at any time. Students are now able to upload their résumé or provide information about their upcoming interview and VMock will provide on-thespot feedback and sample questions. The software provides vital scaffolding to students as they search for work and prepare for interviews. This launch was supported by the Co-op and Career’s curriculum revamp team, which developed web-based curriculum to help students use the tool.
-
In July 2022, UVic Co-op launched two new websites—one focused on co-operative education for students and employers and the other focused on helping students develop their career pathways. These projects streamlined the Co-op and Career web presence from 400+ pages and 250+ PDFs into approximately 200 pages that include easy-to-read, digitally accessible curricular resources. The websites were a result of an 8-month project led by University Communications and Marketing that included extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.
- A series of new online resources was created in 2022/23 to support students
who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge. This included content to help students determine if, when and how to self-disclose and hold conversations around accommodation. It also included developing resources to help employers move towards creating more inclusive, safe and equitable workplaces. Much of this content was added to co-op preparation courses and the web-based career development curriculum.
Goal 5.3.1: Women's access schemes:
- UVic Co-op and Career supports the World Partnership Walk each year to engage the community to fight global poverty and educate about global food security. Thanks to the work of UVic faculty champions, the university raises more than any other post-secondary institution towards this goal. UVic students are able to volunteer to organize the UVic walk and gain co-curricular record credit at UVic for this experience. Here's a profile of a faculty champion.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 135 co-op employer organizations (or 19%) were actively working to support UN SDG 5. Within these organizations, 61 employers (or 7%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 5.
Student experiences
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During her three years in UVic’s law program, Camas Ussery spent countless hours studying the Canadian common law system. So when she began a co-op work term with the South Island Indigenous Authority (SIIA), she committed to learning about Coast Salish/Nuu-chahnulth law and culture through community engagement at craft nights, youth dinners and a 'Gathering of Aunties.’ Camas’s project was to develop Indigenous child and family well-being legislation, which involved conducting cross-jurisdictional research on successful legislative development in other Nations. By listening to colleagues and community members about the harms caused by colonial law, as well as stories that contain Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth law, Camas learned the importance of taking a holistic approach in legislative development. Camas will continue to collaborate with the Indigenous Legal Relations group as part of her articling rotation with the BC Ministry of the Attorney General.
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Fourth-year economics student Daniella Lerat spent a work term as a sales and customer support co-op term with Joni, a Victoria-based company that focuses on sustainable menstruation care. Joni focuses on providing an equitable and inclusive environment—a perfect fit to Daniella, who was a pilot participant in Co-op and Career’s CanWork program, which supported students who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge to take part in co-op. The program paired Daniella with a job coach to jumpstart the job application process and provide support along the way. “Having a job coach that I could confide in about any anxiety about all the steps of the application process was so helpful,” says Daniella. “It was his kind of support that I really valued.”
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Second-year political science student Kenzie Ross worked as a shelter allocation coordinator with EuroRelief, an NGO that operates within Mavrovouni Refugee Camp in Lesvos, she put her experience and studies into practice and learned to “expect the unexpected.” Kenzie worked to help incoming asylum-seekers find a designated place to live and coordinated longer-term shelter plans inside the camp.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 57 co-op employer organizations (or 8%) were actively working to support UN SDG 6. Within these organizations, 24 employers (or 3%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 6.
Student experiences
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Mechanical engineering co-op student Satria Brunner spent his second international co-op work term working to convert biomass waste into energy in Indonesia. Blending his engineering and business studies with his goal to pursue a career in renewable energy, he contributed to the design of solid waste processing technology and co-authored a published paper about the Solid Waste Processing Technology at the Source program. “My work term gave me a stronger reason to continue a career focused on renewables,” he says. “I was surrounded by a number of great mentors and teammates”.
- UVic commerce student Nancy Nguyen joined the BC Parks team as a program assistant. She helped BC Parks provide high quality, safe outdoor recreation that protects the natural environment.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 88 co-op employer organizations (or 12%) were actively working to support UN SDG 7. Within these organizations, 53 employers (or 6%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 7.
Student experiences
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Mechanical engineering co-op student Satria Brunner spent his second international co-op work term working to convert biomass waste into energy in Indonesia. Blending his engineering and business studies with his goal to pursue a career in renewable energy, he contributed to the design of solid waste processing technology and co-authored a published paper about the Solid Waste Processing Technology at the Source program. “My work term gave me a stronger reason to continue a career focused on renewables,” he says. “I was surrounded by a number of great mentors and teammates”.
Goal 8.4.1: Proportion of students taking part in work placements for more than a month:
- In 2022/23, UVic students completed 4,121 placements. Students earned an average of $3,347 per month (an increase of 6.2% over the previous year).
Goal 8.2.3: Employment policy on discrimination:
- All students and employers can access support related to equity, diversion and inclusion in the workplace.
- Career Services runs regular workshops to help students decide when and how to self-disclose their needs to employers, as well as workshops on self-advocacy and work/life balance.
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Co-op and Career piloted an innovative AI software called VMock in 2022/23 to expand the options for students to gain individualized feedback on their résumés, interviews and more. VMock provides UVic students with accessible and interactive career-readiness support that can be accessed anywhere and at any time. Students are now able to upload their résumé or provide information about their upcoming interview and VMock will provide on-thespot feedback and sample questions. The software provides vital scaffolding to students as they search for work and prepare for interviews. This launch was supported by the Co-op and Career’s curriculum revamp team, which developed web-based curriculum to help students use the tool.
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In July 2022, UVic Co-op launched two new websites—one focused on co-operative education for students and employers and the other focused on helping students develop their career pathways. These projects streamlined the Co-op and Career web presence from 400+ pages and 250+ PDFs into approximately 200 pages that include easy-to-read, digitally accessible curricular resources. The websites were a result of an 8-month project led by University Communications and Marketing that included extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.
- A series of new online resources was created in 2022/23 to support students
who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge. This included content to help students determine if, when and how to self-disclose and hold conversations around accommodation. It also included developing resources to help employers move towards creating more inclusive, safe and equitable workplaces. Much of this content was added to co-op preparation courses and the web-based career development curriculum.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 120 co-op employer organizations (or 17%) were actively working to support UN SDG 8. Within these organizations, 66 employers (or 7%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 8.
Student experiences
- Co-op and Career partners with Camosun to promote co-op as a hiring strategy for local employers through agreements with the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and WestShore Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members hire students and students who contribute to the local economy and often find full-time employment with Chamber members after graduation.
Student experiences gained through the WACE Global Challenge
The WACE Global Challenge is an experiential learning project that connects student teams from across the world with organizations to create sustainable impact initiatives. In 2022 and 2023, UVic students participated in team-based projects addressing several SDGs.
Goal 9:
- Co-op and Career work closely with the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) through the Government of Canada to help employers secure funding that allows them to hire UVic co-op students in a range of industries. These hands-on experience are vital for connecting students with innovative industries; the organizations in turn benefit from students' knowledge and skill
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Co-op and Career piloted an innovative AI software called VMock in 2022/23 to expand the options for students to gain individualized feedback on their résumés, interviews and more. VMock provides UVic students with accessible and interactive career-readiness support that can be accessed anywhere and at any time. Students are now able to upload their résumé or provide information about their upcoming interview and VMock will provide on-thespot feedback and sample questions. The software provides vital scaffolding to students as they search for work and prepare for interviews. This launch was supported by the Co-op and Career’s curriculum revamp team, which developed web-based curriculum to help students use the tool.
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In July 2022, UVic Co-op launched two new websites—one focused on co-operative education for students and employers and the other focused on helping students develop their career pathways. These projects streamlined the Co-op and Career web presence from 400+ pages and 250+ PDFs into approximately 200 pages that include easy-to-read, digitally accessible curricular resources. The websites were a result of an 8-month project led by University Communications and Marketing that included extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.
- A series of new online resources was created in 2022/23 to support students
who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge. This included content to help students determine if, when and how to self-disclose and hold conversations around accommodation. It also included developing resources to help employers move towards creating more inclusive, safe and equitable workplaces. Much of this content was added to co-op preparation courses and the web-based career development curriculum.
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Along with elevating Career Services into its own website brand, we also created a term Associate Director position for Career Services. Using funding from carry-forward funds, this position will is focusing on assessing the leadership needs for this team, looking at different models to bridge the career educators across all departments to create a newly envisioned Career Services team, drafting a fulsome job description for the position, and exploring different models of Career Services at comparator universities.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 156 co-op employer organizations (or 22%) were actively working to support UN SDG 9. Within these organizations, 105 employers (or 12%)believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 9.
Student experiences gained through the WACE Global Challenge
The WACE Global Challenge is an experiential learning project that connects student teams from across the world with organizations to create sustainable impact initiatives. In 2020 and 2021, UVic students participated in team-based projects addressing several SDGs.
- In 2022/23, Co-op and Career wrapped up the CanWork pilot program, which supported UVic students who identify as having a disability or mental health challenges to take part in paid, degree-related work experience. Job coaches helped students master their tasks, achieve independence and contribute to the workplace. Eighty-eight students took part in the pilot. Support for students continued into 2023 outside of the pilot through the ongoing accessibility and inclusion co-op coordinator.
- The Indigenous Co-op Program at UVic is a partnership between Co-op and Career and the Office of Indigenous Academic & Community Engagement and provides culturally relevant co-op work term opportunities and one-on-one support to Indigenous students at UVic.
- A variety of new roles were added to the Co-op and Career team in 2022/23, including employer development officers focused on equity and diversity as well as support for the optional and professional program areas, an equity and diversity career advisor, and an accessibility and inclusion co-op coordinator.
- All students and employers can access support related to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- Career Services runs regular workshops to help students decide when and how to self-disclose their needs to employers, as well as workshops on self-advocacy and work/life balance.
- Co-op and Career piloted an innovative AI software called VMock in 2022/23 to expand the options for students to gain individualized feedback on their résumés, interviews and more. VMock provides UVic students with accessible and interactive career-readiness support that can be accessed anywhere and at any time. Students are now able to upload their résumé or provide information about their upcoming interview and VMock will provide on-thespot feedback and sample questions. The software provides vital scaffolding to students as they search for work and prepare for interviews. This launch was supported by the Co-op and Career’s curriculum revamp team, which developed web-based curriculum to help students use the tool.
- In July 2022, UVic Co-op launched two new websites—one focused on co-operative education for students and employers and the other focused on helping students develop their career pathways. These projects streamlined the Co-op and Career web presence from 400+ pages and 250+ PDFs into approximately 200 pages that include easy-to-read, digitally accessible curricular resources. The websites were a result of an 8-month project led by University Communications and Marketing that included extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.
- A series of new online resources was created in 2022/23 to support students
who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge. This included content to help students determine if, when and how to self-disclose and hold conversations around accommodation. It also included developing resources to help employers move towards creating more inclusive, safe and equitable workplaces. Much of this content was added to co-op preparation courses and the web-based career development curriculum.
- Three new committees continued work in 2022/23: a cross-unit committee of Co-op and Career staff members struck to identify and address opportunities related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as a committee focused on developing a revised curriculum for students, and one focused on accessibility.
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From 2019 to 2022, BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training invested $14.5 million to support co-op and work-integrated learning (COWIL) opportunities throughout the province. One of these projects was a partnership with Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster to identify ways to address equity, diversity and inclusion concerns in the engineering and computer science sectors. This multi-faceted project concluded in 2023 and included a survey of co-op students and employers, a pilot use of software to de-bias the job application process and more. The results of this project will inform how post-secondaries and industry build and improve digital skill development.
- UVic's award-winning Indigenous International Work-Integrated Learning Exchance Program connects Indigenous students studying at UVic with co-op work terms with Indigenous centres at universities in Australia and New Zealand. This program was recognized by the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) in 2019, when it was awarded the Panorama Award. It also received the 2019 British Columbia Council for Internaiontal Education (BCCIE)'s Award for Outstanding Program in International Education.
- The Indigenous Co-op Program at UVic is a partnership between Co-op and Career and the Office of Indigenous Academic & Community Engagement and provides culturally relevant co-op work term opportunities and one-on-one support to Indigenous students at UVic.
- UVic led the creation of the Indigenous Co-op/Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Resource HUB (another project funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education), which developed 13 resources and 4 videos that support Indigenous student access, retention and success in WIL programs and placements. The resources include resources on: (1) self-identifying on a job application, (2) tokenism, (3) partnership and representation, (4) program accessibility, and (5) responding to the TRC Calls to Action.
- UVic Co-op and Career supports the World Partnership Walk each year to engage the community to fight global poverty and educate about global food security. Thanks to the work of UVic faculty champions, the university raises more than any other post-secondary institution towards this goal. UVic students are able to volunteer to organize the UVic walk and gain co-curricular record credit at UVic for this experience. Here's a profile of a faculty champion.
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In anticipation of the provincial legislation requiring all post-secondary institutions’ websites to be fully web accessible, Co-op and Career received funding to hire a web accessibility expert to assess, review and rewrite content from our online PDF curriculum. This included developing a digitally accessible web tool that amalgamates content from three previous PDF series into a single space where students can access discipline-related information about career options, competencies and hands-on learning opportunities. This ongoing project is now focused on migrating PDF content into accessible web content.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Co-op and Career surveys employers about how their work supports the UN SDGs. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 109 co-op employer organizations (or 15%) were actively working to support UN SDG 10. Within these organizations, 52 employers (or 6%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 10.
Student experiences
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During her three years in UVic’s law program, Camas Ussery spent countless hours studying the Canadian common law system. So when she began a co-op work term with the South Island Indigenous Authority (SIIA), she committed to learning about Coast Salish/Nuu-chahnulth law and culture through community engagement at craft nights, youth dinners and a 'Gathering of Aunties.’ Camas’s project was to develop Indigenous child and family well-being legislation, which involved conducting cross-jurisdictional research on successful legislative development in other Nations. By listening to colleagues and community members about the harms caused by colonial law, as well as stories that contain Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth law, Camas learned the importance of taking a holistic approach in legislative development. Camas will continue to collaborate with the Indigenous Legal Relations group as part of her articling rotation with the BC Ministry of the Attorney General.
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Fourth-year economics student Daniella Lerat spent a work term as a sales and customer support co-op term with Joni, a Victoria-based company that focuses on sustainable menstruation care. Joni focuses on providing an equitable and inclusive environment—a perfect fit to Daniella, who was a pilot participant in Co-op and Career’s CanWork program, which supported students who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge to take part in co-op. The program paired Daniella with a job coach to jumpstart the job application process and provide support along the way. “Having a job coach that I could confide in about any anxiety about all the steps of the application process was so helpful,” says Daniella. “It was his kind of support that I really valued.”
Goal 11.4.2: Promote sustainable communities:
- Co-op and Career staff support the Bike to Work Week initiative several times per year, with staff forming teams to encourage sustainable commuting.
Goal 11.4.3: Allow remote working:
- By supporting staff to work from home two days a week, Co-op and Career is helping to reduce employee commuting.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Co-op and Career surveys employers about how their work supports the UN SDGs. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 109 co-op employer organizations (or 15%) were actively working to support UN SDG 11. Within these organizations, 67 employers (or 8%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 11.
Student experiences
- Mechanical engineering co-op student Satria Brunner spent his second international co-op work term working to convert biomass waste into energy in Indonesia. Blending his engineering and business studies with his goal to pursue a career in renewable energy, he contributed to the design of solid waste processing technology and co-authored a published paper about the Solid Waste Processing Technology at the Source program. “My work term gave me a stronger reason to continue a career focused on renewables,” he says. “I was surrounded by a number of great mentors and teammates”.
- Fourth-year economics student Daniella Lerat spent a work term as a sales and customer support co-op term with Joni, a Victoria-based company that focuses on sustainable menstruation care. Joni focuses on providing an equitable and inclusive environment—a perfect fit to Daniella, who was a pilot participant in Co-op and Career’s CanWork program, which supported students who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge to take part in co-op. The program paired Daniella with a job coach to jump start the job application process and provide support along the way. “Having a job coach that I could confide in about any anxiety about all the steps of the application process was so helpful,” says Daniella. “It was his kind of support that I really valued.”
Goal 12.2.6: Policy for reduction of disposable items: Co-op and Career has been actively reducing the number of printed publications and materials and shifting to digital whenever possible. This has included:
- Creating QR codes to direct stakeholders to visit the Co-op and Career website for audience-specific information, rather than printing and distributing specialized publications.
- Co-op and Career piloted an innovative AI software called VMock in 2022/23 to expand the options for students to gain individualized feedback on their résumés, interviews and more. VMock provides UVic students with accessible and interactive career-readiness support that can be accessed anywhere and at any time. Students are now able to upload their résumé or provide information about their upcoming interview and VMock will provide on-thespot feedback and sample questions. The software provides vital scaffolding to students as they search for work and prepare for interviews. This launch was supported by the Co-op and Career’s curriculum revamp team, which developed web-based curriculum to help students use the tool.
- In 2022/23, Co-op and Career’s events and communications team assessed the impact and reach of in-person and virtual events from the past several years. Using this data and responding to reduced staffing resources, the team developed a plan to shift how we deliver career-focused information and programming from a one-time events format to an evergreen podcast format. The team recorded 8 podcast episodes with alumni and career educators and will launch the “Work It: a career exploration podcast” in September 2023.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 77 co-op employer organizations (or 11%) were actively working to support UN SDG 12. Within these organizations, 40 employers (or 5%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 12.
Student stories
- UVic commerce co-op student Jamil Bhimji made an impact at BinBreeze, a Victoria-based company that is changing the future of composting food waste.
- UVic commerce student Nancy Nguyen joined the BC Parks team as a program assistant. She helped BC Parks provide high quality, safe outdoor recreation that protects the natural environment.
- Fourth-year economics student Daniella Lerat spent a work term as a sales and customer support co-op term with Joni, a Victoria-based company that focuses on sustainable menstruation care. Joni focuses on providing an equitable and inclusive environment—a perfect fit to Daniella, who was a pilot participant in Co-op and Career’s CanWork program, which supported students who identify as having a disability or mental health challenge to take part in co-op. The program paired Daniella with a job coach to jump start the job application process and provide support along the way. “Having a job coach that I could confide in about any anxiety about all the steps of the application process was so helpful,” says Daniella. “It was his kind of support that I really valued.”
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 126 co-op employer organizations (or 18%) were actively working to support UN SDG 13. Within these organizations, 70 employers (or 8%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 13.
Student experiences
- Mechanical engineering co-op student Satria Brunner spent his second international co-op work term working to convert biomass waste into energy in Indonesia. Blending his engineering and business studies with his goal to pursue a career in renewable energy, he contributed to the design of solid waste processing technology and co-authored a published paper about the Solid Waste Processing Technology at the Source program. “My work term gave me a stronger reason to continue a career focused on renewables,” he says. “I was surrounded by a number of great mentors and teammates”.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 56 co-op employer organizations (or 8%) were actively working to support UN SDG 14. Within these organizations, 36 employers (or 4%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 14.
Student experiences
- Science student Chloe Leroy worked with the Universidad Catolica del Maule (UCM) in Chile to research ways to address deadly salmon pathogens. Her research will help scientists develop ways to treat antibiotic-resistant strains in farmed or wild populations of salmon.
- UVic commerce student Nancy Nguyen joined the BC Parks team as a program assistant. She helped BC Parks provide high quality, safe outdoor recreation that protects the natural environment.
- Geography student Nhan (Young) Nguyen spent a co-op term with the Comox Valley Project Watershed, working with a marine conservation project as a field and research assistant. “My role was to research, survey and identify potential spawning habitats of forage fish, namely Pacific sand lance and surf smelt in the northern Salish Sea,” he says. “On top of literature research, I developed a GIS predictive model to narrow down potential sampling sites, conducted survey sampling and coordinated volunteers.”
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 60 co-op employer organizations (or 8%) were actively working to support UN SDG 14. Within these organizations, 42 employers (or 5%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 15.
Student experiences
- Geography and biology student Abby Matheson found herself immersed in British Columbia’s natural beauty when she accepted a job with biological consulting company Ecofor. The role took her to the province’s north, where she encountered plant and animal diversity in remote field biology. “I was constantly learning something new,” she says of her experience with Ecofor, where she worked as a technician on the Natural Resources Team. “I drew on my biology minor to identify local plants and species, and my geography knowledge laid the groundwork to understand how GPS systems were used in the field.”
- UVic commerce student Nancy Nguyen joined the BC Parks team as a program assistant. She helped BC Parks provide high quality, safe outdoor recreation that protects the natural environment.
Goal 16.2.4: Participatory bodies for stakeholder engagement:
- Co-op and Career staff invite employers to share their experiences within the co-op program as well as the needs of their industries and hiring trends.
Goal 16.3.3: Participation in government research:
- Students from across academic program areas complete co-op work terms conducting research for municipal, provincial and federal government, including contributing to policy development.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 47 co-op employer organizations (or 7%) were actively working to support UN SDG 16. Within these organizations, 27 employers (or 3%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 16.
Student experiences
- During her three years in UVic’s law program, Camas Ussery spent countless hours studying the Canadian common law system. So when she began a co-op work term with the South Island Indigenous Authority (SIIA), she committed to learning about Coast Salish/Nuu-chahnulth law and culture through community engagement at craft nights, youth dinners and a 'Gathering of Aunties.’ Camas’s project was to develop Indigenous child and family well-being legislation, which involved conducting cross-jurisdictional research on successful legislative development in other Nations. By listening to colleagues and community members about the harms caused by colonial law, as well as stories that contain Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth law, Camas learned the importance of taking a holistic approach in legislative development. Camas will continue to collaborate with the Indigenous Legal Relations group as part of her articling rotation with the BC Ministry of the Attorney General.
- UVic Co-op and Career supports the World Partnership Walk each year to engage the community to fight global poverty and educate about global food security. Thanks to the work of UVic faculty champions, the university raises more than any other post-secondary institution towards this goal. UVic students are able to volunteer to organize the UVic walk and gain co-curricular record credit at UVic for this experience. Here's a profile of a faculty champion.
- Students from across academic program areas complete co-op work terms conducting research for municipal, provincial and federal government, including contributing to policy development.
- UVic's Strategic Framework Experiential Learning Fund (SF-ELF) provides financial support to help businesses to hire co-op students. Funding for employers includes a wage subsidy for not-for-profits and Indigenous community organizations to cover a portion of the cost of hiring a co-op student for a work term (up to $5,000).
- Co-op and Career partners with Camosun to promote co-op as a hiring strategy for local employers through agreements with the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and WestShore Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members hire students and students who contribute to the local economy and often find full-time employment with Chamber members after graduation.
- Co-op and Career work closely with the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) through the Government of Canada to help employers secure funding that allows them to hire UVic co-op students in a range of industries. These hands-on experience are vital for connecting students with innovative industries; the organizations in turn benefit from students' knowledge and skill
Goal 17.2.1 and 17.2.2: Cross sectoral dialogue about SDGs:
- Co-op and Career staff invite employers to share their experiences within the co-op program as well as the needs of their industries and hiring trends as part of the employer advisory panel, which meets several times per year.
In the workplace
UVic co-op employers answer a survey about their workplace each year. Of the 718 employer organizations who responded to the survey between May 2022 and April 2023, 57 co-op employer organizations (or 8%) were actively working to support UN SDG 17. Within these organizations, 34 employers (or 4%) believed that co-op students' work contributed to projects related to the UN SDG 17.