The Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) has awarded the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science’s co-operative education program full accreditation to Dec. 31, 2021.

It has been awarded the accreditation for its undergraduate programs in civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, ocean and naval architectural and process engineering.

“This is exceptional news, and a fitting testament of the hard work and student-focused dedication of the entire team in the engineering co-operative education office,” said Anil Raheja, director. “As we move forward, the most rewarding aspect of this strong endorsement of the quality of our program would be the generation of even more “real” work-integrated learning opportunities for our undergraduate engineering co-operative education students.”

CAFCE fosters and advances post-secondary co-operative education in Canada. Its members work in partnership to develop resources to promote the highest quality of post-secondary co-operative education programs through a national forum of professional co-op practitioners; by establishing national standards and promoting the value of post-secondary co-operative education; and by delivering opportunities for learning and sharing of best practices. The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial adopted one of the first engineering co-operative education programs in the country, and is credited with one of the best programs in Canada and around the world.

The faculty was commended for its top-notch programs, student participation rates, its detailed student handbook and innovative grading process whereby work term students not only receive an overall grade for work terms, but also separate grades for performance and communications skills.

“This is excellent news,” said Dr. Greg Naterer, dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. “It’s rewarding to know that CAFCE was impressed with our programs and student participation rates. The accreditation process is a vigorous one and involves a lot of hard work and preparation. I want to thank everyone who contributed, especially our co-operative academic staff members, Noeleen Wadden and Geoff Smith and Penny Abraham, secretary.”

The faculty’s undergraduate programs received full accreditation to June 30, 2017, from the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board in 2014.