ASU-CHEP Co-op Program: Overview and Requirements

The Credit Hours Engineering Programs at ASU require the students to spend specific amount of time in industry with the aim to balance classroom theory with practical experience prior to graduation. The student’s participation in co-operative education is a degree requirement for all students enrolled in the New Engineering Programs at ASU. This program is unique and it is the first mandatory program in the Egyptian Universities.

Co-operative education at ASU-CHEP emphasizes career development through experiential learning as an integral part of the educational process. ASU-CHEP co-op is based on paid employment in practical, major-related positions consistent with the interest, abilities, and aptitudes of the co-op students. Students may accept non-paid co-op jobs.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate, each student must complete 12 weeks of summer co-op over two or three summer periods at the end of the Sophomore, Pre-junior and Junior years. For each week of work, the student will earn one co-op unit (COU). Therefore, the total COU required for graduation is 12 COU. The student may take a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 COU per summer per year.

The student academic transcript will indicate the amount of COU earned. The following is an example of what the student may see on his/her transcript:

CO-OP EXPERIENCE

  SUMMER 2008: ARAB CONTRACTORS: 6 COU

The above information indicates the year, the employer and the number of COU earned.

Unit heads/academic advisors will act as the Co-op coordinators. They will coordinate the students’ co-op experience between the university and the industry employer.

The students will be given names of employers to contact for possible employment. The student can seek other employers conditional upon approval of the coordinator. The student will send his/her CV with a cover letter asking for employment with specific companies. The list of the companies will be posted on the web and it becomes the responsibility of the student to start seeking employment during the spring term. Students will be selected on the basis of a personal interview, academic record, skills, personality, previous co-op experience, and recommendation letters.

During the co-op employment, the student should seek the guidance and assistance of the faculty coordinator in helping his/her with any concerns with the employer. The coordinator will pay weekly visits to the company where the students work and discuss with the students their work and any concerns they may have.

At the end of the employment, co-op students have to write Student Employment Summary and Planner (ES&P) report that will be evaluated by both the employer and the faculty coordinator. The employer will also fill in an evaluation form for the student’s attendance and performance during employment.

To earn credit towards the required 12 COU for graduation, the student has to complete the ES&P report and meet with the coordinator who will have the authority to give the credits (COU). Failure to complete the ES&P report will result in the following:

1. The student will not be allowed to go for his/her second cycle of co-op.

2. The student will be unable to graduate because he/she have failed to fulfill the co-op requirement.

Termination from an unsuccessful co-op experience will result-in the above two consequences. Termination can be due to the following two main reasons:

1. Performance-related issues including lateness/absences, abuse of company resources (such as using internet and phone for personal use during work days) and failure to complete assigned projects by deadlines.

2. Attitude/motivation demonstrated while at work which is typically based upon the supervisor’s evaluation of the student performance in the work place.

1. Eligibility

Employers will

1. provide viable positions relevant to the Building and Materials engineering fields of study taught at ASU in the Credit Hours Program. Job opportunity must be approved by the Academic Advisor/Coordinator to be a creditable co-op job that fulfills the requirement of a student's degree.

2. support, through employment, the university's mission to provide a comprehensive practical and theoretical education to its students.

3. provide appropriate compensation, working conditions, supervision, training, and evaluation to students during employment.

4. ensure that jobs and work places are in compliance with all relevant government statutes and legislation.

2. Job Descriptions

Employers will represent the duties and responsibilities of the advertised positions by presenting a written description of the job duties, qualifications, skill level, and experience required for the positions advertised.

3. Interview Process

Employers are expected to follow the prescribed interview process through which interviews normally

1. occur in the Spring Term.

2. are scheduled and administered by ASU.

3. are for the sole purpose of collecting information on, and evaluating the suitability of, candidates for co-op employment (i.e., not for extending an offer of employment).

4. Offer Process (Ranking)

Following the interview, the employer will

1. rank the acceptable candidates according to preference for each position available.

2. submit the rankings in the specified time frame.

3. understand that the ranking of acceptable candidates is a commitment to hire any student that is matched.

5. Job Offers

Because it is important to provide equal access and opportunity to all employers and students, employers will

1. offer employment only through ASU.

2. refrain from making job offers directly to students during or immediately following an interview.

3. refrain from exerting improper influence in an attempt to affect students' job acceptances (such practices may include, but are not limited to, undue pressure for acceptance of an offer of employment or encouragement of a student to revoke acceptance of another employment match).

6. Orientation Period

An orientation period will be conducted by the company in which the students will be introduced to company activities and the regulation of the workplace.

7. During Employment

Employers will

1. provide weekly activities at a specific work site for each student.

2. assign weekly problem solving assignment, in addition to normal weekly schedule, to test the student’s technical abilities.

3. accommodate a site visit, whenever possible, by the designated Faculty Coordinator during each student's work period; optimally, this will include visits to both student and the industry supervisor.

4. complete a "Co-operative Student Performance Evaluation" form and submit it to the Faculty Coordinator, with a copy to the student, prior to the final day of the work a student who does not receive such an evaluation will not receive credit for that work term.

5. consult Faculty Coordinator prior to undertaking disciplinary action or dismissal of a co-op student.

8. Assessment

The company will assign a supervisor for each student/trainee. The advisor will provide the trainee ongoing support, coaching and leadership needed for his/her professional development. In addition, the industry advisor will assess the student performance in the following areas:

1. Organization ability.

2. Technical ability.

3. Motivation/response to task.

4. Efficiency in completing tasks.

5. Ability to work individually and in a group.

6. Communication (verbal and written) abilities.

Once accepted into the co-op program according to the requirements and policy of ASU, students will

1. attend the sessions on career development pertaining to their co-op employment in order to have a clear understanding of the process and to acquire job searching skills.

2. keep the faculty Coordinator informed of their employment status at all times.

3. ensure that their student file is updated and accurate.

complete all work terms and work reports, according to the requirements of ASU Co-op policy

ASU will provide list of companies who have agreed to hire the students. It is the responsibility of the student to contact these companies and seek employment. The student can approach other companies for summer employment after getting ASU approval of such companies.

International Co-op

ASU international co-op provides opportunities for selecting top students to live and work in foreign countries. ASU is in the process of signing collaborative agreements with four universities in North America in the four discipline areas. These universities will be the vehicle for international co-op. Further details will be developed in the near future.

April 5^th

June 7^th