International students attending Canadian universities face unique challenges, from getting established in a new country to overcoming possible language barriers. Even working can be tricky to arrange, since international students must arrange for a work permit if they want to work off campus. Fortunately, UVic’s Co-operative Education Program helps students apply for special co-op work permits that allow them to seek four-month terms of paid work in their field.
“We have many international students in all disciplines looking for work through our co-op program each year,” said Karima Ramji, UVic Co-op’s international coordinator. “Co-op is a learning strategy that allows students to apply skills learned in the classroom to their workplace. Through Co-op, international students receive assistance with their work permit application every step of the way.”
Mechanical engineering student Yuto Hori has taken advantage of the co-op program during his undergraduate degree. As an engineering student he was automatically enrolled in co-op, and quickly found a job with Asco Aerospace in Delta, BC, where he is helping to implement software for tool data management and to design mechanical devices. In addition to putting his academic skills to good use, he has enjoyed the cultural learning experience. None of the coworkers on his floor were born in Canada, so Hori has connected with people from more than 20 different ethnicities.
With so many cultures in the company, Hori says they all use English to communicate. “This has let me practice my language and interpersonal skills, which will help me at my next job in Canada. I want to keep working in the country after I graduate.”
Hori is one of hundreds of international UVic co-op students who seek employment with Canadian companies each year. Hiroaki Kawanobe will graduate with his Masters of Business Administration spring. He did his undergraduate studies in Japan, but wanted to come to Canada to get some international work experience. He also used co-op to help him connect with employers.
Kawanobe worked as Sales and Marketing Assistant at Victoria based Carmanah Technologies, which sells industrial solar lighting and solar power systems. He was responsible for promoting their products to airports in North America, but was also able to make sales to Japan because of his language skills and knowledge of that culture.
“Co-op was great because it gave me my first Canadian work experience, which helped me find another job with a different local company,” says Kawanobe. “Co-op really helped me.”
The UVic Co-op Program is one of the largest in Canada and places more than 2,500 students in jobs each year. Fourteen per cent of UVic’s co-op students are international students. For more information or to hire a student, visit http://www.uvic.ca/coop. UVic co-op coordinators help employers through every step of the hiring process.
Originally published in Volume 1, Issue 3 of the Fountain, April 2008