Cooperative Education: One Perspective

Traditional educational systems tend to inhibit the preparation of young students for adulthood. This paper presents an alternative that effectively uses on‐the‐job training as an integral part of education. Cooperative education is not a new idea in the academic world. In fact, it has been in existence for almost 86 years. It is a method, however, that has been underused by most institutions across the country. This form of education combines classroom instruction with practical experiences in industry. Students are provided a unique opportunity to link education with industry experience, accelerating their overall maturity and development. In comparison, traditional teaching methods isolate students from the real work environment. This paper explores the need for cooperative education. Advantages from the perspective of students, employers, universities, and society are presented. The results of a study on criteria for a successful cooperative education program are described. The writer provides personal description and analysis of his cooperative‐education experience, along with suggestions on how students can maximize their cooperative‐education experience.