Diverse Co-op Students Making Waves at MetOcean
What’s Xin Yang’s favorite thing about Nova Scotia, beside the ocean and the beach?
It’s the co-operative education she’s receiving in the province. When she applied to schools from her hometown in China, the Dalhousie Bachelor of Engineering Co‑op program was her top choice.
“I understand how important work experience is for me as an international student,” says Yang. “It’s very valuable to have three opportunities to contribute the knowledge I gain at school to real companies and gain work experience that benefits me when I’m looking for a job after graduation.”
One of two diverse co-op students employed at MetOcean Telematics this summer, Yang is spending her time working as a manufacturing engineer, helping develop and test artificial intelligence for the company.
The Co-operative Education Incentive program supports more than 700 co-op placements like Yang’s every year.
Nova Scotia has introduced a diversity bonus to both the Co-operative Education and Student Summer Skills inventive programs to help under-represented youth like Yang connect to on-the-job training.
The bonus breaks down barriers and creates more opportunities for diverse youth to connect to the skills, training and experience they need to find good jobs in Nova Scotia.
MetOcean Telematics is excited to see how this will help it grow and flourish.
“Our co-op students have such a positive impact on our company,” says Tara Gillis, HR manager at MetOcean Telematics. “We recognize that diverse backgrounds lead to diverse ideas, and news ways of looking at our business challenges. As we seek to become the leader in our sector, we know that this diverse way of thinking is going to be what helps us move to the top.”
Co-op student Ramy Metwally couldn’t agree more.
Originally from Egypt, Metwally came to Nova Scotia to get a hands-on experience in his field of Computer Science. Now in his final year at Dalhousie University, Metwally is excited to join Nova Scotia’s workforce after being a valuable part of MetOcean’s team this summer.
“A more diverse work environment has shown me how to find different solutions to problems and has allowed me to use a kind of creativity,” says Metwally.
Both Yang and Metwally are building their futures in Nova Scotia and will bring new energy and possibilities to organizations that hire them.
“Students like Xin and Ramy bring innovative ideas and a creativity that we have directly benefited from; they are the driving force behind our engagement and culture,” says Gillis.
MetOcean has also tapped into the Graduate to Opportunity wage subsidy program to make hiring fresh grads easier.
Small business (under 100 employees), start-ups, social enterprises, non-profits and registered charities are eligible for the program and can receive 25% of a grad’s first-year salary, (35% if the grad is member of a designated diversity group) and 12.5% of the second-year salary.
Applying online is simple, and it is typically processed within five business days.
“I highly recommend that other businesses take advantage of the post-secondary youth hiring programs and diversity bonuses,” says Gillis. “We are lucky to have these opportunities in Nova Scotia. Our students are the leaders of today, and we have learned so much from them.”
More information about youth hiring programs is available here.
