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從加拿大經(jīng)驗看產(chǎn)學結(jié)合的教育和商業(yè)效益
作者: Julie Walchli
時間:
2015年08月17日
位置:
專欄>>學在加拿大
Julie Walchli是加拿大溫哥華英屬哥倫比亞大學文學院合作教育項目創(chuàng)始人和負責人,、該校合作教育協(xié)會前任主席及加拿大合作教育協(xié)會候任主席,。從事合作教育工作前,她在英屬哥倫比亞大學英語系擔任了7年的教職,。 |
當被問到為什么該地區(qū)是世界上最適宜創(chuàng)辦科技公司的地區(qū)之一時,,加拿大最大的本土社交媒體Kik公司CEO特德·利文斯頓表示,“唯一的原因就是滑鐵盧大學的產(chǎn)學合作教育課程,?!? |
????在加拿大全國性報紙《環(huán)球郵報》近期刊登的一篇文章中,,科技資訊記者謝恩·丁曼審視了科技巨頭黑莓公司衰退后,,推動加拿大基奇納–滑鐵盧地區(qū)重現(xiàn)活力的積極因素,并采訪了多位引領“滑鐵盧下一波浪潮”的企業(yè)家,。當被問到為什么該地區(qū)是世界上最適宜創(chuàng)辦科技公司的地區(qū)之一時,,聊天應用Kik公司CEO特德·利文斯頓表示,“唯一的原因是滑鐵盧大學的產(chǎn)學合作教育課程,?!痹摴镜目偛课挥诨F盧,是加拿大最大的本土社交媒體公司,。
????何為產(chǎn)學合作教育,?它如何幫助企業(yè)實現(xiàn)成功?
????許多加拿大大學開設產(chǎn)學合作教育課程,,以幫助學生們實現(xiàn)相關工作和課堂學習的結(jié)合,。理論聯(lián)系實際,有助于學生對理念產(chǎn)生更深的了解,。為了滿足學歷要求,他們通常經(jīng)歷3到6個為期4個月的全職帶薪工作學期,,有時在同一家公司修完所有工作學期,,有時會嘗試不同的工作。
????一位產(chǎn)學合作教育學生通常先進行為期一年的大學學習,,再度過為期4個月或8個月的全職帶薪實習學期,,接著再回到大學,如此循環(huán)反復,。與典型的4年制學制不同,,產(chǎn)學合作教育的學生通常用5年時間完成學士學位。但等到畢業(yè)時,,他們已經(jīng)擁有豐富的經(jīng)驗和 職場關系網(wǎng)絡,。所以,在畢業(yè)時或畢業(yè)后不久,,他們能迅速獲得工作機會,,而且債務負擔小,甚至還有一定數(shù)額的銀行存款,。
????筆者所在的英屬哥倫比亞大學是一所規(guī)模較大的產(chǎn)學合作教育學校,。在每年安排的4600多次實習中,約10%是海外實習,。所以,,產(chǎn)學合作教育課程還能幫助學生獲得國際工作經(jīng)驗,進一步拓展他們的視野和職業(yè)選擇,。
????關于產(chǎn)學合作教育的效果,,英屬哥倫比亞大學工程系產(chǎn)學合作教育課程的學生詹妮?巴特拉是一個很好的例子,。當她在印度完成工程系帶薪實習時,她發(fā)現(xiàn)自己渴望成為一名工程師,。
????在亞伯達戴文能源公司的油氣部門度過最初的工作學期時,,巴特拉學會了如何把所學的工程學課程基礎知識應用在實際工作中。之后,,巴特拉決定在國際兒童天堂組織工作,,以便提升自己。國際兒童天堂組織遵循甘地主義原則,,在印度,、尼泊爾、孟加拉和中國西藏運營,,旨在為發(fā)展中國家和地區(qū)需要支持的婦女和兒童提供協(xié)助,。
????在國際兒童天堂組織的工作激發(fā)了她對醫(yī)學的興趣。巴特拉再次借助產(chǎn)學合作教育這一工具巧妙地設計她的職業(yè)決策,。在卡爾加里大學麥凱恩骨關節(jié)健康學院的冬季學期職位,,將成為她的首個研究工作,標志著她在發(fā)現(xiàn)適合自己的才能和愛好的道路上又邁出了一步,。產(chǎn)學合作教育最終將讓她踐行孔子的教義:“知之者不如好之者,,好之者不如樂之者?!?/p> |
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????In a recent article in one of Canada’s national newspapers, The Globe and Mail, technology reporter Shane Dingman looks at the positive forces reshaping the Kitchener-Waterloo region in Canada in the wake of tech giant Blackberry’s decline, interviewing several entrepreneurs who are leading what he calls “Waterloo’s next wave.” When asked why the Kitchener-Waterloo region is one of the best places in the world to build a technology company, Ted Livingston, CEO of chat app Kik, Canada’s largest homegrown social media company, headquartered in Waterloo, says: “that one thing, and the one thing only, is the co-op program at the University of Waterloo”.
????What is co-operative education, and how does it help businesses to succeed?
????Many Canadian universities offer co-operative education programs as a way for students to combine hands-on work related to their degree programs with classroom learning. Students combine theory with practice, resulting in deeper learning of concepts. Students usually do between 3-6 four-month, full-time, paid work terms as part of their degree requirements, sometimes working with one company for all work terms, sometimes trying different jobs.
????A typical co-op student will do one year of university study, and then go on a 4 or 8-month full-time, paid co-op term, then return to studies, and then repeat the cycle again. Co-op students usually take 5 years to complete their undergraduate degrees, rather than the typical 4, but they graduate with substantial experience on their resumes, a network of professional contacts which often will lead to a job offer at or soon after graduation, and lower debt loads, sometimes even money in the bank.
????And at larger co-op schools, like mine at the University of British Columbia, about 10% of our 4600+ placements each year are outside of Canada, so students can also gain international work experience as part of their co-op program, broadening their perspectives and career options.
????A good example of the power of co-operative education is UBC Engineering Co-op student Jenn Bhatla who, on an Engineering Co-op term in India, feels she found her calling as an engineer.
????After an initial work term with the oil and gas sector at Devon Energy, in Alberta, where she explored how the fundamentals of her Engineering courses could apply in the real world, Bhatla decide to push herself by working with Child Haven International, a program based on Gandhian principles that operates India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Tibet, and assists children and women in developing countries who are in need of support.
????Her work with Child Haven triggered an interest in medicine, and once again Bhatla is using Co-op as a tool to help her finesse her career decision-making process. Her winter-session position, at the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health at the University of Calgary, will be her first time working in research and another step in her path to discovering the right fit for her talents and passions — which will ultimately lead her to fulfill Confucius’ belief: “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”. |
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