Co-operative Education Project - Employers: Are They Happy?

Abstract or Summary

Interim report/findings to share with staff Business New Zealand listed the top 10 skills the employers look for are: communication skills, customer service skills, ability to work well in a team, literacy and numeracy skills, confidence learning about and using computers and technology, planning and organisational skills, initiative and a cando attitude, problem-solving skills, good work habits and independence, and health and safety skills. (Career New Zealand n.d., para 2). It is essential for education institutes like Wintec to provide graduates with these skills to be employable and productive for businesses and society. It is not uncommon that in job applications, employers require applicants to have some kind of relevant experience and for fresh graduates it is often a challenge. Volunteering work might be useful but as suggested by Hodges and Burchill that employers want ‘well-rounded’ graduates with a broad range of competencies (Hodges & Burchill, 2003, p. 19) Eastern Nazarene College (ENC, 2015, para 2) in United States found that internship in college provides students with well-rounded experience, resume and reference building, confidence, and a chance of getting hired. The term "cooperative education" means “the provision of alternating or parallel periods of academic study and public or private employment to give students work experiences related to their academic or occupational objectives and an opportunity to earn the funds necessary for continuing and completing their education” (USLegal n.d., para. 1). In 2015, Wintec offered a cooperative education project in the Bachelor of Applied Management programme for the first time. It is essential to obtain feedback from employers at an early stage for a performance check and continuous improvement to deliver quality education.