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By: Christie Zeb (she/her)

In an industry often overlooked by emerging talent, co-op students are helping Teck Resources Ltd. prove that mining can be modern, meaningful and made for the next generation. 

The next generation of talent often views mining as a career for older workers. They mistakenly associate the industry as conventional, with hard hats and remote sites, rather than an innovative industry.

But is flipping that narrative. 

In a data-rich environment like mining, efficiency is key to everything from blasting to hauling. Co-op students help harness the power of that data to optimize operations. 

“Using tools like Power BI, students have built dashboards that clearly communicate complex metrics,” Miyoshi says. 

Fueling sustainability: Maija’s journey at Teck 

Maija Hooyer (she/her), a third-year student in Sustainability and Financial Management, collected energy and fuel usage data from across Teck’s operations for the company’s annual sustainability report. 

In addition to data management, Hooyer supported the assurance process for the sustainability report by validating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data and investigating material discrepancies. 

She worked closely with site teams to understand year-over-year changes, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the company’s climate disclosures. 

“The feedback we get time and time again is that students are surprised by the amount of responsibility they get,” Miyoshi said. “That’s why we mainly hire students for a minimum of eight months, because we invest in them at the beginning, and then we prepare them to succeed.” 

Inside Teck’s student experience

Teck offers a comprehensive and thoughtfully-designed student experience that goes beyond day-to-day tasks. 

From their first day, students are welcomed through a group orientation that allows them to meet peers across different teams, fostering immediate connections and a sense of community, especially those who have relocated. 

The onboarding process includes a structured curriculum of essential training, such as health and safety, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and practical tools like Office 365, tailored to meet students where they are. 

Through the term, Teck engages students through social events, networking opportunities and professional development sessions like lunch-and-learns and “build-an-app-in-a-day” workshops. The company also pairs new co-op students with returning students who mentor and support them. 

At the end of their work terms, co-op students deliver a final presentation about their work, giving them a chance to showcase their impact. This presentation is part of a celebratory offboarding that includes a thank-you gift. The offboarding at the end of a student’s work term highlights Teck’s commitment to valuing and recognizing student contributions.

“Teck is empowering co-op students to grow, contribute meaningfully and leave with more than just work experience—they leave inspired,” says Christine Thur (she/her), University of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s co-op account manager for Teck.

As part of its commitment to a meaningful student experience, Teck also has a student experience committee—an initiative run entirely by co-op students who want to enhance life at the company for their peers. 

Through this committee, students participate in various activities like kayaking trips and softball leagues, or make meaningful contributions like creating handmade thank-you cards for frontline building staff. 

“It’s not just about work experience, it’s about creating a positive, holistic life experience that students remember and talk about,” Miyoshi says. “Our goal is for all students to return to campus with a story that makes their peers say, ‘I want to work at Teck too’.” 

Teck is redefining what a future in mining looks like. By empowering students to grow, connect and lead, the company is positioning the industry as one where emerging talent can thrive and build meaningful careers.