Where have co-op students worked?

UVic co-op students have completed more than 105,000 co-op work terms since the program launched in 1976. They have put their skills into action for employers across Canada and around the world. Here are some of their stories.

Business

Curtis Lever (commerce)

Driven by his keen interest in the intersection of technology and business, Curtis Lever (commerce) helped organize a networking night as part of his work term at the Thai-Canadian Chamber of...

A close up of a conference pass with a lanyard attached. The pass says "Hanna Schleppe".

Hanna Schleppe (commerce)

Commerce co-op student Hanna Schleppe’s co-op experience in Graz, Austria through UVic's award-winning CANEU-COOP Program was enriched by her active involvement in two main community...

Three students stand together on a street.

Hikaru Saito (commerce)

Hikaru Saito, a fourth year Gustavson business student, completed an international co-op as a Summer Intern for Apex K.K’s sales department in Tokyo, Japan. His role focused primarily on...

Jack Bougie, a commerce co-op student, is posing on a metal spiral staircase in the centre of the Malahat Skywalk.

Jack Bougie (commerce)

When the opportunity arose to work as a co-op student with an iconic local tourism company, Malahat Skywalk Corporation, it was a perfect fit for commerce student Jack Bougie.

A student stands in front of the Colosseum in Rome.

Jake Gaglardi-Kreider (commerce)

My name is Jake Gaglardi-Kreider, a fourth-year student at the University of Victoria Business school (Gustavson) with specialization in International Business. I chose the business school at UVic...

Two students stand in a kitchen holding food.

Jordan Smith (master of global business)

My name is Jordan and I recently completed the MGB program at UVic. After finishing my time in Austria in the MGB program, I decided to search for work opportunities in Europe to broaden my work...

A student sits in front of boxes filled with donations for a food drive.

Lauren McDiarmid (commerce)

During her work term at Apex K.K in Tokyo, commerce co-op student Lauren McDiarmid led an impactful movement that not only addressed the critical issue of zero hunger worldwide (UN SDG #2) but also...

A student with long blond hair stands in front of a reflective light.

Louisa Kusekopf (commerce)

I’m Louisa, a second-year BCom student from Victoria, BC. I’m currently completing an international co-op work term in Southern Germany. I am working at Spa & Resort...

Melanie is posing in a packing warehouse at Portofino Bakery, wearing a white blouse and red tartan skirt. She has long, red wavy hair. Melanie is holding up two packaged loaves of Portofino bread.

Melanie Procyshyn (commerce)

Commerce student Melanie Procyshyn has always been excited about commerce and its role in the economy, but when she began her studies at the University of Victoria in 2021, it was recommendations...

Nancy Nguyen (commerce)

UVic commerce student Nancy Nguyen joined the BC Parks team as a program assistant. She helped BC Parks provide high quality, safe outdoor recreation that protects the natural environment.

On the rope course at WildPlay Element Parks, Olivia films Kat as she jumps happily off the bungee-jump.

Olivia Nelson (commerce)

Commerce student Olivia Nelson put her passions to work at WildPlay Element Parks, capturing exciting video of ziplines, rope courses and bungee-jumps for marketing.

Engineering and Computer Science

A close-up shot of two men standing in front of a bush. They are both smiling and looking at the camera.

Alex McKay and Nick Saar (engineering)

Engineering students Alex McKay and Nick Saar designed a pre-incident plan for a navy base fire department.

Two people wearing ski goggles and ski jackets smile at the camera. Behind them are snowy mountains.

Blaine Tubungbanua (mechanical engineering)

I had always entertained the idea of an international co-op, but had never considered going to Germany, or even Europe, but I saw the posting for Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth Germany,...

Casey is sitting at a table covered in supplies for the Engineering for Kids camps, including blocks, scissors, and markers. He is smiling and wearing an Engineering for Kids t-shirt.

Casey Woo (mechanical engineering)

As a fourth-year student in mechanical engineering, Casey Woo was excited to share his knowledge and passion for solving problems with camp participants at Engineering for Kids.

Christine Wong Chong, an engineering co-op student, is standing in a vineyard on a sunny day, reaching up to touch one vine. Christine is framed by the vines.

Christine Wong Chong (biomedical engineering)

When Christine Wong Chong enrolled as a biomedical engineering student at UVic, she was inspired by the prospect of working in a field that contributes to medical advancements that improve...

A man stands in front of a peacock and gives a thumbs up.

Cornelius Ong (mechanical engineering)

I'm Cornelius, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at UVic, and I recently completed an 8-month co-op as an Actuator Design Intern with the Tesla Optimus team, Tesla's humanoid robot...

A student sits at a table at a restaurant.

Ellie Walters (electrical engineering)

“Have you ever been to a ball?” No, have you?” I replied. “No, I believe it’s an Austrian tradition,” Vic, one of the...

A photo of a shoreline with some buildings and a cliff.

Hailey Gascoigne (computer engineering)

Hailey Gascoigne, a fourth-year computer engineering student, recently completed an international co-op work term as a Research Intern for Smart Home Technologies at Thomas More University College...

A student with long brown hair stands in front of a green bush.

Kirsten Krajnc (civil engineering)

Civil engineering co-op Kristen Krajn learned how to collect historical weather data while working with Indigenous Services Canada.

A student sits on a balcony with a city behind her.

Mahsa Torabi (civil engineering)

My name is Mahsa Torabi and I'm from Iran. I'm a third-year civil engineering co-op student who recently completed a co-op work term as a visiting researcher at the Carbon Leadership Forum in...

A student leans against a signpost in front of a lake and mountain.

Mariana Latta Suazo (mechanical engineering)

My name is Mariana and I grew up in Kitchener, Ontario and am now in my 4th year of Mechanical engineering at UVic. I picked engineering because of my love for math and science, and my desire to...

Matt Lebl (software engineering)

I’m Matt, and I’m a fourth-year student of software engineering at UVic. I decided to take software engineering because I discovered that I love programming, and I’d...

Two people stand on a dock in front of water.

Matt Wilkinson (electrical engineering)

Matthew Wilkinson, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, completed his co-op work term as a manufacturing controls intern at Tesla. Operating at the lithium refinery outside of Corpus...

A student works on an experiment in a lab.

Robin Brooks (civil engineering)

My name is Robin Brooks, and I grew up on the lands of the Ts'uubaa-asatx peoples (commonly known as Lake Cowichan, BC). I am entering my fourth year of Civil Engineering at the University...

Yichun Zhao sits at his desk in his apartment. There is a window behind him looking over a garden.

Yichun Zhao (computer science)

For UVic student Yichun Zhao, helping develop a computer system that ensured people entering BC from outside the country were managing self-isolation was a “wild ride.”

Education

Connor Guillet sits in a tent in Kyrgyzstan.

Connor Guillet (educational psychology)

After completing his Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan’s Saskatchewan Urban Native Teachers Education Program, Connor Guillet enrolled in UVic’s...

A male student stands on a bicycle pathway. He wears a helmet and has a bike at his side. There is a child riding a bike beside him.

Jacob Cooke (health and recreation, PISE)

Physical health and recreation student Jacob Cook jumped at the opportunity to work with the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence facility (PISE), a local non-profit organization that creates...

A student sits in a kayak on a body of water.

Kailyn Smith (recreation and health education)

Kailyn Smith, a third-year student majoring in recreational and health education, is currently completing an international work term in Thailand working as an Outdoor Education Intern at UWC....

Fine Arts

A close-up of a student's face surrounded by sparkly lights.

Kylee Hyde (music)

My name is Kylee, and I’m studying for a Bachelor Of Music at Macquarie University in NSW, Australia. I studied at UVic from September to December of 2022, and worked at Legacy Art...

A student stands in between several colourful beaded art pieces that are hanging from the ceiliing.

Mel Granley (art history/visual studies)

UVic Indigenous studies and art history/visual studies student Mel Granley helped curate the Legacy Gallery's "On Beaded Ground" exhibit, which explores the essential role of Indigenous womens'...

Health Information Science

Three students wearing red lanyards and button-up shifts stand together showing off a structure made of popsicle sticks.

Andrew Abuleal (health information science)

Health information science student worked to improve healthcare in Kenya on international work term.

Humanities

A student stands beside her employer in front of a piece of art.

Angelina Schwarz (history and European studies)

UVic history and European Studies co-op student Angelina Schwarz’s internship at the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INPTA), opened doors for her to explore the...

Ashley Maclellan, a UVic English and Professional Communications co-op student, is sitting in a leather chair surrounded by equipment. She is looking off to the side and smiling, resting her chin on her hand. Ashley has long brown hair and wears a white blouse.

Ashley MacLellan (English and professional communication)

English and Professional Communications student Ashley Maclellan began her professional career after connecting with Civilian Human Resources at the Department of National Defence during the Mock...

Matthew Kerr (left) and James Coe (right) are standing in front of a curated exhibit on the Korean War, with artifacts in a glass case.

James Coe and Matthew Kerr (history)

UVic history students James Coe and Matthew Kerr spent a summer bringing history to life at the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum. From giving tours to curating their own...

Jay Choi, a Humanities co-op student, is posing in front of a wall covered in photos of BC Wildfire Services fighting wildfires. Jay is wearing a gray collared uniform shirt and a moose hide pin.

Jay Choi (Indigenous studies)

Commerce student Melanie Procyshyn has always been excited about commerce and its role in the economy, but when she began her studies at the University of Victoria in 2021, it was recommendations...

A female student site on the top of a bluff overlooing a beach and the ocean. The coastline is green.

Lisa Schnitzler (English and Indigenous studies)

UVic English and Indigenous studies student Lisa Schnitzler travelled to Australia during her work term to join the policy and impact team with the Office of Indigenous Education and Engagement at...

A student stands wearing an animal pelt that has stories and images etched into the hide.

Shireen Foroghi (political science)

Indigenous and political science co-op student travelled to Australia for work term at Walanga Muru - Macquarie University.

A student sits at a desk in front of a computer. There is a window behind the student.

Sydney Moore (Indigenous studies and Canadian history)

Sydney Moore is an Indigenous Studies and Canadian History student, who is Métis, mixed with Anishinaabe, Cree and French ancestry. Born and raised on the unceded territories of...

Public Administration

A male student wearing a yellow shirt stands in front of a green tree.

Juraj Kobzik (public administration)

Juraj is finishing his studies in UVic’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. During his studies he completed two co-op work terms with the Government of Canada’s...