Year in review: Top co-op employer stories of 2024
By: Christie Zeb (she/her)
From innovations in health care and AI to advancing investment solutions, here are the top co-op employer profiles of the year.Ìý
These stories showcase how À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students spark innovation and fuel growth across industries.
Here are the most-viewed stories of 2024:
1.ÌýWealthsimple leverages co-op students’ entrepreneurial spirit to build investment solutions for CanadiansÌý
Co-op students help shape and enhance the platform’s functionality. From improving web and app experience to building new features, their contributions help clients to invest without hassle. With a focus on career growth and mentorship, Wealthsimple empowers students to thrive.
2. The future of health care: How À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students are leading innovationÌý
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students are at the forefront of healthcare innovation. They work across health-care institutions, contributing to medical research and developing solutions that improve patient care.
3. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ talent accelerates life sciences innovation and health-care advancementsÌý
Through health-care advancements and cutting-edge research, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students and alumni are shaping the future of life sciences in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ region. Their work supports breakthroughs in biotechnology and solidifies the region’s position as a leader in life sciences innovation as demonstrated through .
4. Partnering with co-op students to solve real-world challenges
The hires À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students to work on research projects that address some of the world's most pressing problems. Students develop solutions for research programs at NRC and participate in groundbreaking projects that have a lasting impact on their academic and professional careers.
5. Kinesiology students teach anatomy to equity-deserving students in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ region
During their winter 2023 co-op term, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Kinesiology co-op students, Megan Davitsky (she/her) and Kaija Donaldson (she/her) used innovation and creativity to teach equity-deserving students about anatomy. Davitsky and Donaldson developed a workshop for elementary students to guide them in creating a model of the bones and tendons of the hand.
6. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students help build the future of innovative technology at ATS Corporation
values the critical thinking, problem-solving skills and innovative mindset of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students. Students contribute to projects and develop automation solutions that help solve manufacturing needs. ATS is the 2023 Co-operative and Experiential Education Employer Impact Award for Impact on Innovation recipient.
7. Mattamy Homes builds emerging talent through co-opÌý
As the largest privately owned home builder in North America,ÌýÌýhires À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students each term to help meet strategic business objectives. Students work in land development, renewables, finance and business analytics. They help with a variety of tasks like landscape drawings, planning reports, reading and interpreting materials used for submissions, reviewing site plans, sustainability reporting and more.
8. A shared dedication towards a sustainable future inspires Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and their co-op student hiresÌý
hires À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students to help drive its investment plans to prioritize a sustainable future. Students offer valuable insights and provide generational insights on project work. The organization is the 2023 CEE Employer Impact Award for Impact on Sustainability recipient.
9. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ tech talent is powering Skinopathy’s AI revolution in skin cancer screeningÌý
depends on the skilled tech talent of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students to power its innovation in skin cancer detection. Co-op students contribute significantly to the codebase that powers Skinopathy. They write codes for the mobile and web app, build billing modules and SMS notification systems and work on a variety of projects to support Skinopathy’s technology.
10. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students invent revolutionary paediatric orthopaedic devices at SickKidsÌý
At , À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students are driving groundbreaking research and innovation in paediatric orthopaedic care. Their contributions have not only enhanced treatment methods but also led to the creation of two novel medical devices. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op student innovations are transforming patient care and setting new standards in the field.
Honourable mentions
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students vital to medical device innovations at MOLLI SurgicalÌý
medical device company, hires À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students as research and development engineering interns. Students work on all phases of development projects, from prototyping new designs to 3D printing different concepts. To help get products to market, co-op students also assist with documentation and meeting regulatory requirements.Ìý
Engineering sustainable food solutions: À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students use AI technology to improve mushroom productionÌý
Agriculture startup, hires À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students to help assist their smart farms. Students work as product engineering assistants (smart farming systems) and machine learning research and development assistants. The company values the entrepreneurial spirit of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students.Ìý
Rocket Innovation Studio soars ahead by leveraging À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s top tech talentÌý
With the help of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ co-op students, builds customized information technology (IT) solutions for businesses. RIS hires Mathematics and Engineering co-op students as software developers each term. They contribute to user experience, back-end and front-end infrastructure development.