About the Co-op Mentorship
The benefits of mentorship, to both the mentor and mentee, have been widely acknowledged in literature, research and work-integrated learning programs. Both people involved in a strong mentoring partnership enjoy greater career satisfaction, self-esteem, work-life integration and many other personal and professional benefits.
The purpose of the mentorship component of the Engineering Co-op Internship Program is to partner each co-op student with a professional engineer who is willing to share their wisdom, teaching and support. The mentor is a person who is involved in the engineering community but is not directly associated with the student's co-op employment or academics.
Specifically, your role as mentor is to provide the student with guidance and support as they embark on and navigate the first eight months of their work placement.
Is Mentoring for You?
Consider applying to the mentorship component of the Co-op Internship Program if you are:
A professional engineer with a keen interest in helping students by sharing the expertise and wisdom that you have gained throughout your career
Open to helping students talk through and find solutions to interpersonal challenges they may face during their work placements (i.e. how to handle conflict in the workplace)
Able to provide specific information on the engineering profession and willing to share your own experience transitioning to a career in engineering
Hold (or have held) a Professional Engineering designation through APEGS (or an equivalent).
Mentor Expectations
Mentor for Eight Months. Serve as a mentor for the first 8 months of a co-op student’s work placement.
One-on-One Meetings. Have at least three conversations, virtual or in-person, with the co-op student over the 8 month period.
Be Available. Provide your contact information to the student should they have questions or need guidance throughout their co-op work placement.
Mentorship Process
If you are interested in mentoring one of our co-op students, please fill out the Engineering Co-op Internship Mentor Application by clicking the Apply button below. Your information will be collected by, and remain with, program staff. You may fill out the application at any time of the year; however, mentoring partnerships will only be matched three times a year as students prepare to begin their work placements.
Approximately one month prior to co-op students beginning their work placement, our program staff will match students with mentors. Unfortunately, a match may not be available for everyone who applies to be a mentor as we have a limited number of students. If that is the case for you, you will remain in our system and be selected for partnership for the next round of students. Our co-op students begin their placements in January, May, or September.
Prior to a co-op student beginning their work placement, you and the student will be notified of your mentoring partnership. The student will be given direction to contact you once they have begun their work placement. Throughout the first eight months of the student's work placement, you will provide mentorship. Refer to the list of mentor expectations listed previously on this website.