What is Experiential Education?

Cooperative Education and Work Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada has created definitions to establish shared terminology around Experiential Education and Work-Integrated Learning opportunities. This document is a great starting place in thinking about what opportunities you want to create in your programming.

CEWIL definitions

For more information, visit the CEWIL Canada website and CEWIL Atlantic website.

Communicating Expectations

When creating an experiential education opportunity, it is important to set clear expectations for students, faculty, and industry/community partners. See below for resources that can help you manage and communicate expectations and responsibilities.

This brief General Placement Agreement form outlines goals and responsibilities for instructor, student, and placement supervisor.

General Placement Agreement form

This fillable PDF from Waterloo’s Co-op program guides supervisors through key questions at the beginning, middle and end of a student placement.

Supervisor tools package (University of Waterloo)

Other Considerations

During COVID, if you have students working with employers or community partners, you will want to ensure that they are familiar with COVID-19 regulations in their placement. By having students complete this form, you can keep track of where students will be working and confirm that they are aware of applicable COVID-19 regulations.

COVID Experiential Education Agreement

When placing international students in experiential education opportunities, have students contact the International Student Office to ensure all necessary work permits are obtained prior to placements.

This page is under development. If there are resources you would like to share with the UPEI community, or if there are resources you need developed, contact Shannon Snow at smsnow@upei.ca for more information.