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When Maxwell Dinsmore applied for the Computer Programming and Analysis program at Durham College (DC), the opportunity to incorporate work-integrated learning into his education was a big reason why.
“I thought that co-op was a great way to get experience and hopefully a full-time position right out of college,” said Dinsmore.
Students in 34 DC programs can apply for an invaluable co-op opportunity, where they can put their learning to the test in a workplace environment while building their professional network before they even graduate.
“Work-integrated learning opportunities like co-op and field placements are so important, because they allow our students to build practical skills, gain confidence, and become truly prepared for their future careers,” explained Anna De Grauwe, Director, Experiential Learning.
Entrance to co-op is competitive, so Dinsmore knew that he’d need to keep his grades high in order to qualify. Immersing himself into his studies, he assured that he was near the top of the class when the time to apply came. Sure enough, he earned the opportunity to embark on a four-month, paid work term between the second and third years of the program. Last summer, he did just that at Extendicare Canada.
“It gave me a place to learn and grow while working. I got a lot of opportunities to learn new technologies and to implement solutions I’ve never even heard about before,” he said.
One of his primary tasks was assisting with a cost analysis on how Extendicare can implement new technologies. Though he’d initially hoped to be doing more hands-on programming, he grew to enjoy the varied tasks he was given.
“I wasn’t focusing on making an application, but more on interacting with people and seeing what they want out of certain systems,” he said. “It definitely helped me transition more into business analysis, rather than pure programming and software development. I find the process of planning new applications or maintaining developed applications a bit more interesting.”
His hard work earned rave reviews from Extendicare, and if all goes to plan, he’ll have a full-time opportunity waiting for him there after graduation.
“I felt like they really valued my work there. It was so nice to know that I can do good work in the field,” he said.
That’s just one of the reasons he heartily recommends that students take advantage of work-integrated learning opportunities.
“It really helped solidify my knowledge.”
