Why Employers Are Thrilled To Have The Mechanical Engineering Technology Program Join The Co-op Family

Posted on Monday, April 9th, 2018

Employers, AC employees, and students joined together to mark a new milestone at the College: the addition of an optional co-op component to the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program.

At this breakfast event, President Cheryl Jensen and Senior Vice President Academic, Claude Brulé provided guests with welcoming remarks and described their dedication to, and passion for Cooperative Education. David Hall, Manager of the Cooperative Education Department and David Thibodeau, Chair of the Mechanical and Transportation Technology Department shared details about how this newly added co-op option will benefit organizations with the skills these students bring into the workplace.

The audience was thrilled to have Mary Gauthier, General Manager at Mechanical Contractors Association of Ottawa bring supportive words from the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ottawa and Andrew Douma, Mechanical Engineering Technology graduate and Principal of Total HVAC share his perspective as a past student of the program and now employer of many of our Algonquin graduates.

“We were so pleased to have many of our co-op employers, students and AC employees join us to celebrate this new co-op offering for the Mechanical Engineering Technology program,” says David Hall, Manager of the Cooperative Education Department. “We look forward to having the students of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program available year-round to make a difference for our co-op employers.”

 

Below, we look at three key ways that co-op students of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program can benefit employers:

1. Bring latest industry skills to the workplace

Students of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program are equipped with the latest tools to apply scientific and engineering principles to solve mechanical engineering design problems in a variety of settings. Examples of how these students can contribute include:

  • Solving and analyzing mechanical engineering problems (mechanics, structures and materials, manufacturing, fluids, electricity, electronics, thermodynamics, machines and motors, and programming)
  • Using CAD software, Solidworks, to create models and prepare engineering design drawings in compliance with ANSI/ASME Y14.5 and Y14.41 standards
  • Practical skills (machining, welding, electrical troubleshooting)
  • Performing Solidworks simulation (FEA, Motion Analysis, Fluid Flow) to validate engineering designs
  • Writing C++ programs to solve engineering problems

2. A great succession planning tool

Hiring co-op students from Algonquin College keeps you right on the forefront of the top talent entering your industry. During a co-op work-term, employers can evaluate co-op students in their work environment. Many of our students are hired on as permanent staff at their co-op employer’s business, meaning that a big portion of the best candidates in your field never even hit the job market.

3. Increase capacity in day-to-day workflow

Students may be assigned short-term projects where hiring a permanent employee would be impractical or where existing staff is in short supply.

Co-op is a low risk way of finding someone who is just right for your organization. Once you submit a job posting to Algonquin College, you are under no obligation to hire a student.

To accommodate the needs of each of our employers, co-op students in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program will have some flexibility to extend their co-op work-term beyond 4 months if requested by the employer.

Are you interested in hiring students from Algonquin College’s co-op program? Give us a call at 613-727-4723 Ext 7623, email us at coop@algonquincollege.com, or request further information directly from our website.

 

 


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