Academic STEMM Co-op in Health Research

Partners in Education

The Partners in Education programs exist to enhance the educational process and facilitate personal growth of our students by providing the best possible resources and expertise. PEL is a Partners in Education program that was implemented in the 2004-2005 school year to extend the continuum of training for oncology graduate students to the secondary school community. Training in cancer research was offered to secondary school co-op students by Dr. Jim Koropatnick, the director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategic Training Program in Cancer Research & Technology Transfer (CIHR-STP CaRTT) and Mr. Rodger Dusky, Director of Partners in Experiential Learning (PEL). Since its inception, PEL has expanded its mentor base and endeavoured to enrich the cooperative, collaborative education partnerships between 40 secondary schools within the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB), the Wheable Centre for Adult Education, and the community of health research professionals. Today, all senior secondary co-op students, who are highly motivated to engage in a workplace assignment in the STEMM disciplines in health research and are recommended by their co-op teacher will be considered for PEL.

Responsibilities

The school will require the student, parent/guardian, training organization/supervisor and teacher to complete a School Board Co-operative Education Program Participants' Agreement that details the conditions of the work-education relationship. The following is a partial listing of the responsibilities:

  • The workplace provides a safe and healthy environment where the student will be supervised, trained, provided work/learning opportunities and evaluated.
  • The teacher will assess the work/learning environment, establish curriculum connections for each independent learning plan, monitor and evaluate student performance in the workplace and deliver the in-school component.
  • The student will abide by all workplace and school policies relating to the program
  • Parents agree to the participation of their son/daughter in the program and accept responsibility for his/her conduct.

Time in the Workplace

  • The student, parent/guardian, training organization/supervisor and teacher sign a Ministry of Education Work Education Agreement that details the specific times at the placement
  • Students usually spend from 2.5 to 3 hours for each time period in the workplace; however, this may be adjusted to suit the workplace and the student.
  • Student placement may occur in the morning or afternoon depending on the student's schedule.

For more details, please visit Registration and Application Information.