Co-op/Internship programs within the public service

The public service continues to be the nation's largest single employer of students enrolled in Co-op/Internship programs. Since 1990, the government has employed over 3 000 students each year under these programs. In partnership with participating academic institutions, the public service plays an important role in providing students with the relevant and practical work experience they need to fulfill the requirements of their academic program.

The Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) is responsible for approving Co-op/Internship programs from which managers in the public service may recruit students. Accordingly, the PSC has established approval criteria which Co-op/Internship programs are assessed. These criteria seek to ensure that the programs approved by the PSC are those that formally integrate, in a structured manner, academic learning with development, through work experiencess.