UNIVERSITY OF
TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA
(UTech)
Co-operative Education (Co-op Ed)
Programme
“Partnering with industry to produce work-ready graduates”
CO-OP ED AT UTECH
The mission of UTech’s Co-op Ed Programme is
two–fold:


Provide our students with practical and
professional exposure that will allow them to
develop work-related skills, realistic
expectations, and high levels of
professionalism and ethics among other things.
Provide industry with student employees who
are equipped with the necessary skills and
competencies that will enhance their business’
position in a globally competitive environment.
SCHEME ROTATIONS UNDER
CO-OP ED






Internship
Practicum
Industrial Attachment
Professional Work Experience
Work Experience
Externship
Duration: 4 – 30 weeks
BENEFITS OF A CO-OP ED
PROGRAMME
FOR EMPLOYERS





Ready and cost-effective access to short-term
employees for special projects
Ready access to highly motivated students with
sought-after skills
Increased staff diversity
The opportunity to impact the quality and
relevance of the School’s curricula
The opportunity to screen students for fulltime
employment
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
ASSESSMENT & SUPERVISION


Students shall be supervised jointly by the
employee-designate and the School’s Co-op Ed
Co-ordinator.
The employee-designate will be required to
assess student(s) periodically based on the
agreed objectives and specific learning
outcomes.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
BENEFIT PACKAGE
We request that:
a. an arrangement be made based on mutual
agreement for a stipend to be paid to
students
OR
b. special provisions be made for lunch,
travel and accommodation where
applicable or possible.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
DISCRIMINATION & SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Our Co-op Ed employers are responsible for
providing a safe non-discriminatory
environment for our students.
The University will terminate its relationship
with any employer who is guilty of such
practices.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
FAIR LABOUR
Consideration should be given to:
 40 hour work week
 Overtime work
 Lunch break
Note: Any deviations must be mutually agreed
upon before hand.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
JOB TRAINING
The University expects that Co-op Ed students
will receive quality on-the-job training, i.e.,
they will be placed in an environment that
will:
a.
help them achieve the desired
learning outcomes
b.
enhance those competencies
necessary to function as managers.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE AND
INDEMNITY
While on placement:


students are covered by the University’s
Sagicor Indemnity Plan. Additionally, there
is Student Health Insurance provided by
Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited.
coverage remains in effect during the
placement period.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE AND
INDEMNITY cont’d:

Students who require long-term
hospitalization or will be placed
oversees are encouraged to acquire
additional private insurance.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Co-op Ed students are expected to accept
Co-op Ed positions with a seriousness of
purpose and to perform their work accurately
and responsibly.
If the Co-op Ed student’s performance does not
meet reasonable standards, the employer is not
obligated to continue the student’s Co-op Ed
experience.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
STUDENT PERFORMANCE cont’d
In such a situation, the employer must
inform the Co-op Ed student’s
Co-ordinator or the Co-op Ed Unit
immediately.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
STUDENTS ON NATIONAL DUTY OR
REPRESENTING THE COUNTRY OR THE
UNIVERSITY
If during placement, students are called
upon for national duty or to represent the
University or country, such students should
be permitted time off for participation. To
this end, students should submit a written
letter from the organizers of the event to
their immediate work supervisor(s) and
copy same to their School’s Co-op Ed
Co-ordinator.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
STUDENT PLACEMENT AGREEMENT
The employer, along with the student
and the School’s Co-op Ed
Co-ordinator will sign a placement
agreement form. This document outlines
the purpose, terms and responsibilities
of all parties concerned.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
WITHDRAWAL
a.
A student may withdraw from placement
only with the written permission of the
Head of School upon the recommendation
of the School’s Co-op Ed Co-ordinator.
Withdrawal may be considered only for
reasons of ill health or grave
circumstances that were not foreseeable
at the time of placement. In this instance,
the University will write to inform the
employer of the withdrawal and possible
replacement of the student.
OPERATIONAL POLICIES
WITHDRAWAL
b)
A student may be asked to withdraw from
the Programme at the request of the
institution to which he was assigned. In this
case, the employer is expected to make
telephone contact with the School’s Co-op Ed
Co-ordinator in the first instance, followed
by a formal letter outlining the nature of the
request for withdrawal. Upon receipt of this
letter, the Co-ordinator will respond to the
employer within three working days,
indicating the course of action.
EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
BEFORE PLACEMENT
A supervisor must be identified to
work alongside Co-op Ed students. The
responsibilities of this person will
include:

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providing mentorship
monitoring students’ performance
assigning and overseeing project
assessing students
EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
BEFORE PLACEMENT
Supervisor’s responsibilities cont’d


providing information on the following
(if applicable): housing, transportation,
meals and/or stipend at least two weeks
before students depart for the work place.
meeting with students prior to or at the
beginning of placement to discuss rules
and regulations of the property and
students’ work schedules.
EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
DURING PLACEMENT
The supervisor is expected to:


liaise with the School’s Co-op Ed
Co-ordinator concerning students’
performance.
compensate students in full or in
part for unworked hours, should
the work place not meet the
agreed number of hours per week.
EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
DURING PLACEMENT
Supervisor’s responsibilities cont’d



meet with students regularly to assess
general deportment.
keep a daily log of the student’s
attendance and punctuality.
evaluate the student using the
evaluation forms supplied.
EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
DURING PLACEMENT
Supervisor’s responsibilities cont’d


provide transportation for students if
they work late hours or are
scheduled for work before the local
bus operates.
serve as learning resource for the
student, as well as, a role model
instilling positive values and attitudes.
EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
DURING PLACEMENT
Supervisor’s responsibilities cont’d

create an open environment for the
student to apply classroom knowledge to
practical situations

report to the School’s Co-op Ed
Co-ordinator any inappropriate behaviour
or activity by a student during placement.
SCHOOL CO-ORDINATORS
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT
School of Business Administration
Mrs. Myrtle Weir
Telephone: (876) 927-1680 Ext. 2101
Fax: (876) 702-3303
Email: mweir@utech.edu.jm
Dr. Marlene Phillips (Administrative Management students only)
Telephone: 927-1680 Ext. 2527; Fax: (876) 702-3303
Email: mphillips@utech.edu.jm
SCHOOL CO-ORDINATORS
School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Mrs. Shiela Livingston - Lacey
Telephone: (876) 970-5432 ; Fax: (876) 977-4818
Email: cheflivingston@yahoo.com ;
shtminternship@utech.edu.jm
Mrs. Rosemarie Ivey
Telephone: (876) 970-5401; Fax: (876) 977-4818
Email: rdonaldson-ivey@utech.edu.jm
Assisted by:
Mr. Ashford Kerr
Telephone: (876) 970-5433 ; Fax: (876) 977-4818
Email: akerr@utech.edu.jm
SCHOOL CO-ORDINATORS
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTING
School of Engineering
Mr. Oneil Josephs
Telephone: 927-1680 Ext. 2214
Email: ojosephs@utech.edu.jm
School of Computing and Information Technology
Mrs. Caroline Parkes (until May 2012)
Telephone: (876) 927-1680 Ext. 3226
Email: cparkes@utech.edu.jm
Assisted by:
Mrs. Heather White
Telephone: (876) 927-1680 Ext. 2165
Email: hwhite@utech.edu.jm
SCHOOL CO-ORDINATORS
FACULTY OF EDUCATION & LIBERAL
STUDIES
School of Technical and Vocational Education
Miss Gelefer Bartley
Telephone: 927-1680-8 Ext 2429
Email: gbartley@utech.edu.jm
Mr. Courtney Palmer
Telephone: 927-1680-8 EXT2214
Email: cpalmer@utech.edu.jm
Department of Liberal Studies
Mrs. Michelle Stewart-McKoy
Telephone: (876) 927-1680-8 Ext 2817
Email: mamackoy@utech.edu.jm
SCHOOL CO-ORDINATORS
FACULTY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
School of Building and Land Management
Miss Stacey Palmer – Construction Engineering
Telephone: (876) 927-1680 Ext. 2337
Email: spalmer@utech.edu.jm
Mr. Seymour Fisher – Quantity Surveying
Telephone: (876) 927-1680 Ext. 2330
Email: sfisher@utech.edu.jm
Mrs. Nadine Freeman-Prince – Urban and Regional Planning
Telephone: (876) 927-1680 Ext. 2338/2350
Email: nfreeman@utech.edu.jm
SCHOOL CO-ORDINATORS
School of Building and Land Management
cont’d
Miss. Tina Beele - Land Economy and Valuation Surveying
Telephone: (876) 927-1680 Ext. 2336/2254
Email: tbeale@utech.edu.jm
Mr. Glendon Newsome - Surveying and Geographic Information
Science
Telephone: (876) 927-1680 Ext. 2348
Email: gnewsome@utech.edu.jm
SCHOOL CO-ORDINATORS
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND SPORT
School of Natural and Applied Science
Dr. Kenesha Wilson
Telephone: (876) 927-1680-8 Ext. 2329
Email: kswilson@utech.edu.jm
CONTACTING THE UNIVERSITY’S
CO-OP ED UNIT
The Co-op Ed Unit
Telephone: 927-1680-8 Ext 3546/6006
Email: ced@utech.edu.jm
Facsimile: 970-3149
Mrs. La-Cresha Gordon-Brydson – Co-op Ed Co-ordinator
Miss Sandra Junor – Administrative Support
CONCLUDING REMARKS
We are glad at that you have decided to
partner with UTech in the training of the
workforce.
We trust that this will continue to be a
mutually rewarding experience.