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Work Placements

Cooperative education is the combination of study and work. The Cooperative Education Unit at the University of Waikato is the foremost leader in New Zealand for Cooperative Education-type programmes, with on average 200 students each year.  Work placements are an opportunity to get experience in real work related to your discipline. You must be enrolled in either a BSc(Tech) or BE degree to do a work placement.

Work placement student profiles 

  • Abby Mason - BSc(Tech),

    DOC, Waikawau Bay: Worked with the dotterels.

  • Bo Zhang - BE, Software Engineering

    BBC Technologies, Ohaupo: Placement involved a project that looked at interlinking several different automated processes for blueberry sorting into one programme.

  • Greg Snook - BSc(Tech), Earth Sciences

    Albany Mega Centre construction site: Determining the soils physical properties, compaction and pore space.

  • Josh DeVillers and Rowan Freeman - BSc(Tech),

    NIWA: Looking at growth trials and effectiveness of aquatic herbicides.

  • Robin Tokunai - BSc(Tech), Earth Sciences

    Waihi Gold Mine: Worked for the geology team involved with underground mapping of the gold vein.

  • Kelly- Anne Banks - BSc(Tech), Animal Behaviour

    Frankton Zoo: Developed a schedule of behavioural enrichment activities for all zoo animals.

  • Melaina Grant - BSc(Tech), Biochemistry

    Montreal, Canada: Experimental work on parasitic metabolisms and genetics.

  • Mitch Woodhouse - BE, Mechanical Engineering

    Singer, Huntly Power Station: Maintenance work on the turbines of the power station.

  • Sarah Hill - BSc(Tech), Animal Behaviour

    Frankton Zoo: Developed a schedule of behavioural enrichment activities for all zoo animals.

  • Mitch and co - ,

    Singer, Huntly Power Station: Maintenance work on the turbines.

  • Sam, Mitch and David - ,

    Singer, Huntly Power Station: Some of the large tools used during the maintenance process of the turbines.

  • Stephanie Delaney - BSc(Tech), Animal Behaviour

    Animal Behaviour & Welfare Group: Looking at stress on sheep, calf behaviour, and involved in bovine heat stress trials.

  • Karam Wadi - BE, Biochemical Engineering

    Meat Research NZ: Looking at improving digestibility and methods of adding nutritional value to food products.

  • Myles Hill - BSc(Tech), Biological Sciences

    Environment Waikato: Inspecting aquatic wildlife.

  • Cheridan Mather - BSc(Tech), Biological Sciences

    Hamilton Zoo: Keeper working with birds, reptiles and some monkey species.

  • Daina Harris - BSc(Tech), Biological Sciences

    Ag Research: First placement with Animal Behaviour & Welfare Group – looking at bovine heat stress.

 

Cooperative Education Unit staff

We have a team of University staff called the Co-op group who assist with finding work placements. View details for our staff here.


Industry placement guidelines

The Industry Placement Guide for BSc(Tech) and BE students is available here as a PDF:
Placement Guide 2010. 

The benefits of Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education benefits everyone involved, the students, the employers and the university.

Student benefits:

  • Gain practical experience in your field of study, often solving real problems in the workplace.
  • Understand how course material is applied and the relevance under practical situations, which can help increase motivation.
  • Build contacts with professionals in your area which increases your chances of being offered a full-time job.
  • Develop interpersonal and communication skills and a professional outlook.
  • Gain valuable career information to make better decisions about future employment.
  • Earn money!

 
Employer benefits: 

The main advantage of our programme is that we provide preselected, motivated students who have met our entry requirements. The work placement is given full academic credit to the degree, thus serving as a potent motivational tool.

  • Access to reliable, motivated and skilled individuals.
  • Temporary cover or help with short and long term projects.
  • The opportunity to screen students for full-time employment.
  • Regular contact with Co-op staff.
  • Collaborative research opportunities with Science & Engineering academics.

 University benefits:

  • Constructive liaison with, and input from, a range of employers, with potentially large spin-offs for research and teaching.
  • Increased motivation for students to learn and to appreciate the value of education and its place in their future.
  • Promotion of our students, degrees and university.

Our People

Greg Snook

Greg Snook
BSc(Tech) in Earth Sciences

Student Profiles »

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URL: http://sci.waikato.ac.nz/study/work-placements
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