In Co-operative and Experiential Education, we aim to do more than just prepare students for jobs.
We believe in acting with purpose, a value that guides the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and our approach to helping students navigate an unpredictable and complex future of work. Traditional career paths are evolving, and success increasingly depends on the ability to lead with intention, make strategic choices and align personal goals with meaningful impact.
Purposeful Work Framework
We created the Purposeful Work Framework to help prepare students for the future of work. This framework supports students in exploring, reflecting and defining their purpose.
Using the Purposeful Work Framework, students are encouraged to ask the following questions:
- What matters to me?
- What can I do?
- What difference do I want to make?
- How will I engage?
Students are encouraged to reflect upon these questions to clarify what purposeful work might be.
What matters to me?
Exploring values and needs
Students identify core values and pinpoint essential needs that drive career choices for authentic, purpose-led decisions.
What can I do?
Talent and skillsÂ
Informed by the Future Ready Talent Framework, students assess their unique skills and talents allowing them to engage in work that aligns with their purpose.
What difference do I want to make?
Impact
We use the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ futures and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) to inform choices about areas of impact that matter to students and where they have the skill set to engage.
How will I enage?
Connecting with the world of work
Co-operative and Experiential Education supports engagement that connects students to the world of work. That might be at any stage of a student’s time at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and includes curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, co-op or other work-integrated learning and careers. Students are encouraged to engage in ways that align with their values, talents and impact goals. This allows for opportunities to deepen self-awareness and develop skills.
Purpose clarityÂ
Throughout a student’s journey, we encourage reflection on values, talents, impact and engagement.
Through reflection, students gain clarity around what purposeful work means to them. This clarity helps students navigate an increasingly complex future of work being guided by what matters most and having the capabilities to make a difference for a hopeful future.
Where we see purposeful work
We put students at the centre, empowering them to tackle global challenges and drive positive change.  Â
What I realized from this donor-funded experience is that poverty in Canada is much more invisible but equally pressing. My perspectives have changed, and I feel like I’m able to do some good.
The goal was to create an educational experience for students in our community. We specifically wanted to provide it at no cost, or little cost, to schools in lower-income districts.
Let's talk about purpose
We're all about helping students find their groove in this chaotic world. The Purposeful Work Framework helps students navigate the twists and turns of work and life, so they can make their mark and leave the world a better place.