II. G. Own-Job Placements

Enterprising students have initiated their own international co-op placements with or without support by the institution. Whether the student worked through an association with an international student exchange focus, friends and relatives, previous co-op employers or their own co-op co-ordinator, the net result is that the student obtains a job abroad in a related field and receives co-op recognition for it. The most common form of this model is where the academic institution provides preparation workshops and guidance for the students, giving them support in creating effective resumes and cover letters, identifying sources of information on potential employers and assisting in matters relating to immigration.

less cost and time demands on the institution; students have more control of the choice of country and employer; effort required by student serves as an effective screen to deter triflers; job development by the student may lead to longer term contacts; job search activities could be a good learning experience for the student.	requires a considerable time commitment from the student, which may detract from studies; some international associations charge large fees for their services; difficult to determine the quality of the employment being offered to the student;

A Guide for Developing International Co-op Programs