Measuring Student Success in Engineering Co-op Education

Co-operative (co-op) education programs have become integral to engineering curricula, merging theoretical learning with real-world experience and developing skills essential to student career readiness. However, defining and measuring success in these programs remains complex, given the diverse experiences and outcomes they produce. This paper presents a framework to evaluate student success in the Engineering Co-op program at Ontario Tech University. By examining academic outcomes, skill development, career readiness, and student and employer feedback, the framework provides a holistic view of success metrics. Data from the program, including Grade Point Average (GPA) trends, participation rates, and self-assessments, support the effectiveness of experiential learning in enhancing professional skills and academic performance. Preliminary findings suggest a positive correlation between co-op participation and GPA improvement, as well as an increase in students’ confidence and employability. These insights highlight the need for a multi-faceted evaluation model, offering engineering programs a pathway to refine co-op education to better prepare students for professional success.