Richmond Mayor, Malcolm Brodie and Kwantlen Co-op Instructor, Leanne MacKenzie
proclaim National Co-op Week.

For immediate release

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Celebrates as City of Richmond Proclaims National Co-op Week

RICHMOND, B.C. – (March 17, 2011) – Kwantlen Polytechnic University is pleased that the City of Richmond has proclaimed National Co-op week, March 21 – 25, 2011.

More than 25 cities will celebrate the impact of experiential learning on their communities after being contacted by the Association for Co-operative Education in BC/Yukon. Co-op Education (Co-op) connects post-secondary students with paid work experiences related to their fields of study. Kwantlen is a member of the Association for Co-operative Education (ACE) which represents co-op educators and practitioners from many of the post-secondary institutions in British Columbia and the Yukon. Kwantlen partners annually with many community employers and provides co-op opportunities to students studying Information Technology, Criminology, Business and Environmental Protection.

“Our aim is to provide meaningful and academically relevant work-learning experiences for our students,” states Shawn Erickson, director of Kwantlen’s Co-op programs. “These experiences could not be possible without the committed partnerships we have with our employers from the local community,” states Leanne MacKenzie, Kwantlen Co-op Instructor. “We hope to continue the relationships we have with our local employers and continue to establish new ones in order to well equip our graduates for their careers,” says MacKenzie.

Thousands of BC students take part annually in co-operative education by alternating their academic semesters with working terms for employers in BC, across Canada and around the world. These experiences help students invest in their local, regional and world communities. Co-op education is recognized as an effective means to support post-secondary learning while providing students with valuable hands-on experience.

“We know how valuable co-op can be to students, and to our communities,” says Stuart Billings, Association for Co-operative Education (ACE) president. “We hear from our students about how co-op has helped shape their career goals and we hear from employers about the ways that co-op helps them recruit the strongest candidates and brings a fresh perspective to their organizations. Co-op continues to be a dependable investment—everyone benefits.”

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs including business, liberal arts and science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 17,000 students annually have a choice from over 135 programs including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations.

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For more information about Kwantlen`s co-op programs, visit: www.kwantlen.ca/coop

For more information about National Co-op Week visit www.co-op.bc.ca or contact:

Leanne MacKenzie
Kwantlen Co-op Instructor and ACE Vice President
604 599 2015
www.co-op.bc.ca

For more information about Kwantlen, contact:

Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kwantlen.ca