BU’s co-op program relaunches for 7th season with record 72 students

Brandon University’s Co-operative Education Program launched its seventh season Thursday with more students than ever hoping to get real-work experience.

This season, 72 students joined the program with the goal of being placed in jobs that pair with their future careers.

“It gave me some really important industry-relevant skills that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to gain otherwise, and it got me into opportunities that I didn’t know were available to me,” fifth-year BU chemistry student Kendal Giesbrecht said about her summer positions.

Giesbrecht, who is in her third term with the co-op program, said it has helped her get summer jobs with the Pfizer plant in Brandon and a recent researching role in Dresden, Germany.

In regards to Pfizer, Giesbrecht said getting a job with the pharmaceutical company as a student wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the co-op program.

“It absolutely helped get my foot in the door,” she said. “It’s such a worldwide company — I now am able to put that experience on my resumé. I have a year’s experience in both research and industry, with skills in the field.”

Cora Dupuis, the program’s director, said this year’s co-op grew by about 16 students, which reflects not only student interest but employer confidence and “a community that believes in experiential learning.”

“Co-op works best when a community rallies around its students, and Brandon continues to do just that,” Dupuis said.

The co-op also helps students through professional development workshops and supports to prepare students for work terms. This year’s cohort included 50 new students and 22 returning ones.

Alumna Dezarae Bodnar said the mentorship and kindness of the program, and Dupuis herself, have “shaped my journey in ways that I’m deeply grateful for.”

“(Dupuis’) mentorship and the structure of the co-op program helped me to recognize my own strengths and trust in her,” Bodnar said. “Through co-op, I had experiences that showed me not only what I could do, but also things that were attainable for me.

“My final co-op term brought everything into focus for me. I’ve stepped into a role that allowed me to lean fully into who I am, and that’s building community, creating programs and connecting people.”

New co-op student Judith Okpe said she hopes to “get more real-life experience” through the program.

“I learned a lot of stuff in school,” Okpe, a third-year accounting student, said. “Let me apply them in a real-world work setting, and also just to connect with people.”

Fifth-year sociology student Kalin Contois said he first joined the program to gain additional experience related to his degree.

“I believed it was kind of crucial to kind of gain experience alongside my education I was getting here,” Contois said.

He said after working with the government as a policy analyst, he believes the program will “100 per cent” benefit him going into the workforce.

“I think it really helped me have a leg up, but also the experience of the day-to-day of the jobs to see if I actually liked it or not,” Contois said.

Acting provost and vice-president of BU Greg Gatien said students being able to take on real-work experience “enriches” their education.

“Our students are gaining experience in ways that help them further identify aspirations, gain confidence, connect with mentors — especially those off campus — acquire real life skills, appreciate academic theory in new and practical ways, and gain focus that will propel them into careers and rewarding lives as leaders in our community and, of course, beyond,” Gatien said.

Thursday’s event gathered many alumni, new and returning students and politicians and business leaders from around the city.

Students at the event were also offered the chance to get free professional headshots taken, to help their social media and online profiles.

» alambert@brandonsun.com