The Edwards School of Business Co-op Student Program offers local businesses across the region a chance to hire a third-year business student on a temporary eight-month basis under a range of six different business majors. (Facebook/Edwards School of Business)

By Martin Martinson

A Valuable Experience

Edwards Co-op Student Program offers unique opportunity for local businesses

Sep 10, 2020 | 12:46 PM

For the last 13 years, the Edwards School of Business Co-op Student Program has been offering a helping hand to local businesses around the region, including the Battlefords.

Designed as a mutually beneficial venture for both the students and businesses involved, the program helps find third-year business students a chance to gain meaningful experience in a range of business ventures, under the umbrella of the program’s six different majors.

Those majors include, accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, management, and operations management.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic this year taking a toll on local businesses, there has perhaps never been a more apt time to take advantage of the program. It allows for employers to hire a student on a temporary basis (as each term is only eight months), at a lower cost than it would be for permanent full-time, and even apply for government funding while doing so.

Co-op coordinator Kim Stranden, said that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of hiring a co-op student.

SUPPORT AND PREVENTION

'They are not alone': Sask. RCMP address rising domestic violence with prevention and support programs

5h ago

Battlefords North Stars Preview

Nipawin game postponed, then North Stars visit Bruins for the first time

5h ago

BUSTED

RCMP seize 50 kg of cocaine during traffic stop near Maidstone

6h ago

“They are [also] overachievers, so they bring in so much energy and new ideas, while providing computer and technical skills that can really help a business,” she said. “They have really strong marketing skills and web-based skills that are really nice to have.”

Additionally, Stranden also pointed out that because the co-op program is optional, and not mandatory within the school’s degree program, businesses can be assured they are getting students who are dedicated and who see the value in the experience gained.

“They’re very adaptable to float between one department and another too because they’re looking at this program to get work experience, so they are sponges,” she added. “They want to learn and try out as many things as possible, so it is really easy to move them around depending on the job.”

This year, the program featured 160 co-op students between the six majors, making it the biggest class yet. And while the job market may be in a unique state in a lot of ways due to the ongoing pandemic, of the 121 co-op students on placement this past year, just 10 were let go due to layoffs in relation to the pandemic.

Chief Operating Officer with the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce, Linda Machniak, said she encourages local businesses to consider hiring a Co-op student.

“Not only do you have bright young people who are willing to work, but [they are] people who are willing to dedicate time to a specific project that you might have in your workplace, or a project specific for them in their schooling that could advance their work in the particular area of expertise they have,” she said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for businesses to take advantage of that partnership with the Edwards School of Business.”

For more information on the Edwards Co-op Student Program businesses are asked to email coop@edwards.usask.ca, or call Kim Stranden directly, at 306-966-1454.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1