Get a Foot in the Door with Co-op

Hugh Murat's summer co-op placement was so successful that the company hired him full time right after graduation.

Hugh Murat’s transition from NAIT’s Computer Engineering Technology program into a career was virtually seamless. That’s not to say it wasn’t a challenge, but a summer co-op placement gave him a foot in the door and made the process easier.

During that time as a programmer with Stream-Flo Industries, an energy sector services company, Murat modified and developed key operations programs, including the main order processing system. "The classroom provided the fundamentals," says Murat, "but the job pushed him beyond them."

“It’s like, ‘You’re a junior mountain climber? Okay, climb Everest,’” he says with a laugh. “But I like challenge.” He proved up to it. The company hired him full time upon graduation, fulfilling one of his key objectives in applying for the co-op program.

While that’s an ideal outcome, it’s the challenge Murat embraced that LeeAnne Pawluski, NAIT’s cooperative education coordinator, identifies as the program’s primary goal. As with other forms of work-integrated learning at the institute – like practicum and internship placements – co-op introduces students to the real world outside the classroom.

“We want to find positions for students that challenge them and give them exposure to their industry,” says Pawluski, who works closely with a variety of industries to establish a growing number of co-op relationships for NAIT. Positions are full time, paid and meaningful (“We make sure they’re not sweeping or doing inventory all summer,” says Pawluski). And they give employers valuable productivity – and a resource for new talent.

Learn about NAIT’s wide range of programs and hands-on learning style at www.nait.ca.