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Cooperative Education-Innovative Approaches for Partnerships between Universities and Industries and High Schools Ali Kashef, University of Northern Iowa Mark Rajai, Northern Kentucky University Akbar Eslami, Elizabeth City State University Ali Setoodehnnia, Kean University

Abstract

Over the last few years, continuous learning has become an essential element of job success, and workplace learning linked to career development has become part of the educational system of the future. Today, many industries are increasingly depending on cooperative education (co-op) and internship programs with universities, colleges and sometimes with high schools. However, they do not perceive how to start one or what is expected from them. In some cases, high schools aren’t aware of how to establish good relations and better communication with the industry. Some department chairs or administrators don’t recognize the role of co-op in the academy, or else they decide to overlook it. Therefore, co-op with a clear expectation and assessment should be part of student educational experience. Educators, students and industries will all gain substantial benefits from their involvement in this process.

The objective of this paper is to make the university and high schools’ educators aware of the opportunities they could offer their students in industrial area. Students have the chance to experience the real world of industry with hands on experience simultaneously with the education they receive at school.

Introduction

Cooperative education (co-op) has come a long way since its inception in 1906, but this journey is far from over [1]. As our global market changes to more competitive state of affairs, the co-op educators need to encourage more employers to develop quality co-op programs. This can be done successfully with some innovative approach among high schools, universities and industries. The high school students or teachers can go for work-based learning experiences in industry and get credit during the summer. This could be through an internship /apprenticeship program at the universities or two-year colleges. This will help students make a better connection between what they learn at school (Math, science, communication, key engineering concepts, processes, etc.) and what they would do in the future at the job site. It also helps the educators/teachers themselves to up date their experience with the real world and at the same time they could get promotion with college credits. Industries, on the other hand, could use this Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2005, American Society for Engineering Education

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Setoodehnia, A., & Kashef, A., & Rajai, M., & Eslami, A. (2005, June), Cooperative Education Innovative Approaches For Partnerships Between Universities And Industries And High Schools Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--14685