Partnership-Led Co-ops Prove Beneficial for Students and Employers
Arun Radhakrishnan wanted a co-op opportunity that would combine his passion for technology and data analytics with the skills he gained in the Master of Science in Project Management program. The Northeastern University in Toronto student found precisely that at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). What Arun may not have realized is that in addition to his qualifications and goals, his co-op was made possible because of the university’s commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships with industry.
“For me, co-op was essential,” says Arun, who enrolled at Northeastern University in Toronto after completing a Bachelor of Engineering and working for several years in his native India. “Canadian work experience is so important, and I wanted to make the most of this opportunity in my area of interest, analytics.”
Navigating the Co-op Journey
As a technology regulation and iGaming compliance co-op student, Arun worked with a team of analysts who help regulate Ontario’s iGaming and gambling industry.
Arun’s time at AGCO had a positive impact. As part of the iGaming regulatory compliance team, he contributed to work deliverables within regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, data analysis, and data modelling. As Arun applied his knowledge and expertise, he also gained invaluable experience.
“In addition to gaining hands-on project management experience, I got to see how various decisions are made.”
“Working in a Canadian work environment and networking were two of the biggest benefits of my co-op,” shares Arun. “I also appreciated that when I told my manager I have an interest in data analytics, he went out of his way to have me sit in on senior management meetings where relevant topics were discussed. So, in addition to gaining hands-on project management experience, I got to see how various decisions are made. My manager would also ask me for my opinion and how I would handle certain scenarios. There was a lot of mentoring.”
From the start of his co-op journey, Arun demonstrated an unwavering commitment to making the most of this real-world opportunity. He proactively joined a peer mentor program offered to Northeastern University in Toronto students, which pairs first-year students with senior students. Arun’s peer mentor, who had just started his co-op, eagerly shared insights into the Canadian job market, further fuelling Arun’s determination. When Arun began applying for jobs and encountered several rejections, he was undeterred. He turned to Northeastern University in Toronto’s dedicated Career Services and Co-op department.
“I met with my co-op advisor [Mike Sun], and he immediately started to help me enhance my resume and write a tailored cover letter for each job I applied to,” says Arun, who graduated in March. “It was awesome information. I was committed to doing everything I needed to do to get a co-op, and my co-op advisor was committed to helping me through the process. Ultimately, I found the AGCO posting on NUworks. My advisor even helped me prepare for my interview by doing mock interviews with me. He was there for me from start to finish. Now, even after graduating, I’m working with Career Services in my search for a full-time job as recent alumni can still benefit from their help.”
A Partnership-led Co-op
NUworks, where Arun found his co-op, is Northeastern University’s online career management portal. It features career, co-op, internship, and experiential (XN) opportunities for current students and recent alumni. Employers use NUworks to post and promote post-graduation and co-op jobs, review job applications, and manage their participation in career-related events sponsored by Northeastern.
That’s where Charmaine Ramirez, an experiential partnerships specialist at Northeastern University in Toronto, comes in. Ramirez works with industry partners to explore collaborations that create experiential learning opportunities for students. In addition to co-op, partnerships may extend to capstone projects, employers participating as guest speakers, and other experiential learning opportunities.
“In academia, there can sometimes be a gap between what students are learning and what the industry needs, so the more we collaborate with our partners, the more we can cultivate the skills they are looking for.”
When the AGCO expressed an interest in collaborating with Northeastern University in Toronto, Ramirez’s team worked with the organization to determine its needs. The customized partnership includes AGCO posting student work experience opportunities, including Arun’s co-op position, to NUworks.
“NUworks is extremely beneficial for both students and our partners,” says Ramirez. “Students get access to jobs that may not be available to them on external job boards, and we support students with feedback on their application and other essential job search steps.
“At the same time, we support partners in their recruiting efforts. Partners post on NUworks for free, and we promote the job postings to our students in various ways. With AGCO, for example, I also collected the applications and completed a vetting process of the candidates, which I then shared with the employer.”
Working with Northeastern University in Toronto, says Ramirez, also gives industry partners the advantage of recruiting graduate-level students from areas of study as varied as technology, data analytics, health sciences, biotechnology and regulatory affairs. The university works with both partners who have established co-op programs and those currently building experiential learning opportunities into their recruitment strategy. Whatever a partner’s needs, says Ramirez, Northeastern University in Toronto is focused on creating meaningful relationships with far-reaching impact.
“In academia, there can sometimes be a gap between what students are learning and what the industry needs, so the more we collaborate with our partners, the more we can cultivate the skills they are looking for,” she says. “Northeastern is also a global university, so we are working with students who are global learners and see their transition into the workforce as a space of intersections. That hugely benefits companies that want to compete on a global stage. It’s really a win-win for everyone.”
By: Izabela Shubair