Commissioned Reports

An Exploration of Work and Learning Opportunities in New Brunswick

October 2007

Summary

Report resources

Work and learning opportunities for post-secondary students abound in New Brunswick. Whether they are mandatory internships, field practicums, or optional work terms within a co-operative education program, there are numerous ways students can gain work-related experience while pursuing their post-secondary credentials. There are also a multitude of benefits for students, employers, academic institutions, and society at large that derive from participation in work and learning opportunities.

Secondary school and post-secondary students in New Brunswick at both the undergraduate and graduate level take part in various opportunities to gain work-related knowledge and experience. Provincial and national surveys indicate that many students participate for reasons ranging from fulfilling their academic requirements to increasing employment prospects. The availability of work and learning opportunities also affects students’ choices of post-secondary institutions.

The purpose of the current research project was to identify the range of factors associated with students’ decisions to participate or not participate in work and learning programs. Post-secondary students and employers completed an online survey exploring their knowledge and opinions regarding programs that offer a combined work and learning component. In addition, separate focus groups and interviews were conducted with employers, students, and work and learning program coordinators to gain greater insight into their opinions and attitudes towards such programs in New Brunswick.

Findings indicate that students and employers generally evaluate their work and learning experiences positively, though they have some recommendations for improvement. The barrier to participating in such opportunities cited most often by students and employers was a lack of awareness of both program availability and the criteria for program eligibility.

Recommendations derived from the data collected included a need for the following: better dissemination of information about such opportunities; increased funding to support work and learning programs, employers, and students; and the development of improved channels of communication between work and learning programs, employers, and academic institutions to ensure that the goals and needs of each are aligned as much as possible, while providing students with the best learning environment possible.

 Work and learning opportunities for post-secondary students abound in New Brunswick. Whether they are mandatory internships, field practicums, or optional work terms within a co-operative education program, there are numerous ways students can gain work-related experience while pursuing their post-secondary credentials. Il existe une multitude d'occasions d'apprentissage travailétudes pour les étudiants post-secondaires au Nouveau-Brunswick. Que ce soit des stages d'études obligatoires, un stage pratique sur le terrain ou une expérience de travail à l'intérieur d'un programme d'apprentissage coopératif, il y a plusieurs façons pour les étudiants d'acquérir une  expérience de travail tout en poursuivant des études postsecondaires.