Waterloo, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, is a pioneer in co-operative education and boasts the largest post-secondary co-operative programme worldwide Founded in 1957 as Canada as first higher education institution to adopt co-operative education, the University of Waterloo (UW) is widely reputed for its challenging learning environment and teaching excellence. For the past 16 years, the Toronto-based Maclean’s magazine has ranked Waterloo as the most innovative of Canada’s 47 universities. For 14 years, UW was also ranked Canada’s best overall and “the best source of leaders of tomorrow”. Moreover it leads comprehensive universities those with significant research as well as undergraduate and graduate study programmes, but without medical schools in the category of percentage of students who win national academic awards. It also leads Canadian universities for the value of its scholarships and bursaries as a percentage of the university budget. Waterloo which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year with much fanfare, is a pioneer in co-operative education and boasts the largest post-secondary co-operative educa-tion programme worldwide. Under the programme students apply theory in practical settings, connect their learning to the world, decide on a career path, and alternate between four-month study and full-paid employment work terms. “Co-operative education uses both classroom study and temporary jobs to provide students with practical experience. Students accepted into this programme alternate between work terms and school terms. Waterloo has the top reputation for innovation in Canada, according to a respected national magazine survey of Canadian schools that has ranked Waterloo as most innovative and best overall” proclaims David Johnston, president of the university. UW’s six faculties applied health sciences, arts, engineering, environmental studies, mathematics and science offer a wide range of undergraduate, postgrad, and doctoral programmes to over 27,000 students instructed by 977 faculty. Waterloo. Sited in the heart of southern Ontario province, the city of Waterloo was recently voted one of the top three cities worldwide in the International Awards for Liveable Communities competition. With a population of 113,100, when combined with Kitchener, its twin city, Waterloo’s population rises to 350,000. Settled by German-speaking immigrants from Pennsylvania and Europe in the 19th century, Kitchener-Waterloo is currently an important centre for manufacturing and hi-tech industry, with one of the country’s lowest unemployment rates. Kitchener-Waterloo still retains much of its German heritage, but it’s a multicultural city with 20 percent of its population comprising new immigrants. Moreover with more than 50,000 full-time students in two universities and a community college, Waterloo is a student-friendly city with numerous restaurants, second-hand shops, parks, malls, coffee shops, and cinemas. Just 60 minutes east of Waterloo is metropolitan Toronto, home to University of Toronto, York University, Ryerson University and several colleges. To the west and another 60 minutes is Canada’s London, which hosts the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College. Studying in Canada is a testing experience. Winters (December-March) are cold, with regular snowfalls that leave 5 cm to 20 cm of snow on the ground and high winds. Spring (March-June) is cool and rainy. Summer (June-September)…
