• University|Colleges
    Information for potential and member Canada-Japan Co-op Program member insitutions








    • Prospective Educational Institutions

    The Canada-Japan Co-op Program is a unique, one-of-its kind, world wide Co-op consortium that services member educational institutions who desire to secure Co-op Work Term/Internships for students in Japan. The programs longevity, combined with its successful track record are a testament to the commitment and level of service you will receive from Canada-Japan Co-op Program staff who will assist your students in applying, being interviewed and securing positions in Japan.

    If you are looking to:

    • increase the number of international co-op opportunities at your institution;
    • offer alternatives to your students outside the parameters offered domestically; or
    • secure either technical or English teaching co-op opportunities for students, then The Canada-Japan Co-op Program should be considered!

    Benefits of being a member of The Canada-Japan Co-op Program consortium:

    • Access to a recognized, long-term successful co-op program in Japan;
    • Access to Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO) posted and positions posted directly through The Canada-Japan Co-op Program by Japanese companies;
    • Full support for students in Japanese and English: on application; through the interview, matching and placement cycles; in visa documentation preparation; confirmation of arrival; phone and in-person site visits; in the workplace to resolve and workplace issues; and upon return to Canada;
    • Student pre-departure training;
    • Collection of update, learning objectives, experiential and technical reports;
    • Debriefing of students upon return from their international work terms/internship in Japan; and
    • Ongoing support for Canada-Japan Co-op Alumni.


    About the Program

    Overview

    Since 1991, the aim of the Co-op Japan Program has been to encourage long term opportunities for scientific and industrial exchange between Canada and Japan. In an effort to achieve this goal, the program has worked tirelessly to establish close, professional relationships with Japanese business, industry, and government ministries in order to create links with our Canadian counterparts.

    The Co-op Japan Program is a Canadian university and college based, international internship program linking some of the best students, researchers, and career professionals Canada has to offer, with highly committed business and industry participants in Japan.

    History

    In an effort to encourage long term opportunities for scientific and industrial exchange between Canada and Japan the Co-op Japan Program was established in May 1991, with support from the Government of Canada's Pacific 2000 Japan Science & Technology Fund. A consortium of four core Canadian Universities was formed to implement the program and launch it on a three year pilot phase. The mandate: to develop a pool of young Canadian engineers and scientists with hands-on experience in the Japanese work place.

    With the challenge of introducing the concept of co-operative education to Japanese companies, the Canada-Japan Co-op Program set about developing work placement opportunities for Canadian students in Japan. By the end of the program pilot phase, 175 placements had been completed with students and companies both reporting their expectations had been exceeded. While some of Canada's brightest university students developed an understanding and appreciation of Japanese industry and culture, Japanese companies were given the opportunity to take advantage of highly skilled and motivated students.

    Returning students claimed that with the added value of international work experience in Japan appearing on their resumes, they achieved access to more Canadian career opportunities; and Japanese company representatives, while initially cautious about accepting undergraduate interns, expressed tremendous satisfaction with the level of performance, maturity, and responsibility exhibited by Canada-Japan Co-op students. An added bonus of the international placement experience for both students and companies was the strength of the personal relationships and professional contacts that had been established. Not unexpectedly, some of these relationships have parlayed into research exchange opportunities between representative universities and placement companies.

    In 1994, with the success of the Canada-Japan Co-op Program pilot phase cemented, the Canadian Government issued a mandate for expansion. Every university and college in Canada was invited to participate, making the Canada-Japan Co-op Program a truly national placement program. At one stage the Canada-Japan Co-op Program represented 22 Canadian universities. An average of 40 students participate each year, spending up to 12 months working primarily in research and development oriented environments of participating companies in Japan.

    Building on Success

    The success the Canada-Japan Co-op Program has achieved over the years has enabled the Program the opportunity and ability to expand our services to Japanese industry. In addition to coordinating technical placements for undergraduate students in Japan, we are now filling requests by participating companies for non-technical internships. The program originally intended for engineering and science students has opened up to provide opportunities for business and arts undergraduates.

    There have been several requests from interested colleges across Canada who are interested in participating in the program. As a result, in 2006, we will be marketing the program across the country to allow for a greater number of educational institutions both at the university and college level to participate.

    Historically the program has operated on one matching period per year, with the majority of the placements being made as a direct result of our close ties with the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO.) To allow more flexibility for employers and also to fit in with more educational institution co-op program timetables, the program has moved to a continuous application process. A continuous application process for undergraduate students will permit students to apply to The Canada-Japan Co-op Program and positions year round. The flexibility will also provide employers with motivated, skilled undergraduate students who are able to commence working in January, May or September for a four, eight or twelve-month duration.

    The success of the Canada-Japan Co-op Program is due to the exceptional quality of our participating university and college students, the loyalty of our participating companies in Japan, assistance from the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo and the active support of our participating educational institutions.

    Active Members

    At one time up to 21 educational institutions across Canada were active members of the program, there has been a decline in educational institution due to the lack of federal funding to support the program however the remaining members of the consortium identify the benefits and see the value in the educational membership fee. One of the main objectives of the program in 06/07 is to market the program nationally and increase the number of participating institutions.

    Educational institutions who have participated in the program over the last 15 years

    BRITISH COLUMBIA

    • The University of Victoria
    • The University of British Columbia
    • Simon Fraser University

    ALBERTA

    • The University of Alberta
    • The University of Calgary

    SASKATCHEWAN

    • The University of Regina
    • The University of Saskatchewan

    ONTARIO

    • The University of Waterloo
    • Queen�s University
    • The University of Ottawa
    • The University of Toronto
    • McMaster University

    MANITOBA

    • The University of Manitoba

    NEWFOUNDLAND

    • Memorial University of Newfoundland

    QUEBEC

    • McGill University
    • Ecole Polytechnique
    • Ecole de Technologie Superieure
    • Universite de Sherbrooke

    NOVA SCOTIA

    • Acadia University
    • Dalhousie University
    • Saint Mary�s University
    • Technical University of Nova Scotia

    The following educational institutions are active members of The Canada-Japan Co-op Program in 05/06:

    • Queen�s University
    • Simon Fraser University
    • University of Alberta
    • University of British Columbia
    • University of Calgary
    • University of Toronto
    • University of Victoria
    • University of Waterloo

    Membership Education Institution costs involved:

      $1,500 annual institution membership
      $612 per academic term ( the student can register and pay UBC tuition as a visiting student; or, the institution can choose to be invoiced for the duration of the program, maintain the students full time co-op registration at the home institution and forward payment to The Canada-Japan Co-op Program.)

    Membership and tuition cover the operational costs of the nationally based Canada-Japan Co-op Program office including: the full time salary of a bi-lingual Program Assistant, Directors time of 10 hours per week, overhead including telephone, fax, couriers, marketing, site visits and video conferencing.

    Conference calls are conducted per term with consortium members to update on the progress of the program.

    If you are interested in learning more about the opportunities The Canada-Japan Co-op Program can provide your educational institution, or would like to arrange a meeting with The Canada-Japan Co-op Director, Jenny Kagetsu, please email coop.japan@ubc.ca
    ©2006 The Canada-Japan Co-op Program