Wise employers know exactly where to find their star performers of tomorrow - the University of Alberta School of Business.

Last year, one of Canada's best-respected business schools placed 450 students with Alberta corporations and government agencies via its ground-breaking Co-op Program. It's a work- experience model that has stood the test of time.

For their part, participating U of A business students gain valuable hands-on work experience in conjunction with their particular course of study. The Co-op Program enables these high achievers to subsidize their studies (average monthly salary: $2,350) and learn practical skills, while acquiring useful "real-world" information to help them make informed career decisions upon graduation.

But perhaps the businesses reap even greater rewards. By taking advantage of the Co-op Program, they can access a direct pipeline to the best and the brightest, in many cases the business leaders of the future.

Program Director Brent Collingwood says the Co-op program puts the brightest students to work.

In short, it's a corporate recruiter's dream.

"This is an optional program for U of A business students that enables them to gain real-world working experience which ties in with their studies at the School of Business," explained Program Director Brent Collingwood.

Here's how the Co-op Program works: A student will log a total of three four-month work terms, totalling one year, although not in consecutive terms.

"They'll generally work a period of four or eight months. Then the student comes back to school," Collingwood continued.

"The intent is to integrate their understanding from a theoretical standpoint and then ask them to go out in the business world to apply the principles they've learned.”

Needless to add, the Alberta School of Business attracts some of the brightest undergrads in the country. Entrance requirements are stringent and standards of performance are high.

Only third-year students are eligible to apply for the Co-op Program and those who do are carefully screened, prior to acceptance.

Senior Faculty encourage students to participate in the Co-op program, emphasizing the responsibility they hold as ambassadors of both the School of Business and the University at large.

"We look for people who will go out to an employer with a positive attitude, someone able to deliver on the strength of our program," added Collingwood.

Before tackling new chores in the field, Co-op program participants are given intensive training on job search skills: how to write a cover letter, how to write a resumé, how to put their best foot forward during job interviews. Students then compete for the available jobs, as posted by participating companies.

The School of Business faculty encourages this competitive climate, regarding it as an important tool for teaching students how to get the most from their self-marketing skills.

"While the program delivers on task-orientation - asking students to go out and tackle specific jobs for an organization - the secondary benefit of the program comes from teaching students how to apply for jobs," said Collingwood.

Employers benefit in a dozen different ways, not least because these student-employees bring extremely useful tools - including leading-edge research and computer skills - with them to the workplace.

Many employers use their relationship with the Co-op Program as a useful pre-screening mechanism for recruiting, an ideal way to test the on-the-job mettle of bright students.

If the fit feels right, offers of permanent employment are frequently extended and accepted.

Employers have recognized the value of a work-experience program that represents a low-cost opportunity to fill specific personnel needs, whether in the fields of finance, investment, banking, accounting, human resources or marketing.

Most recently, regional health authorities have been stepping forward in greater numbers as well.

"Health authorities have frequently come to us. They're looking for people because they're facing staffing shortages, not so much on the medical side but on the administration side," Collingwood noted.

"Our students might do risk-management analyses on liability issues for them. Or help with cost-effectiveness studies relating to inventory management.”

In testament to the program's efficacy, Collingwood has enjoyed watching several program graduates come full circle.

"Many of our alumni participate, saying: 'I went through the program, I understand its advantages, for both students and their Co-op employers.

Now I want to hire a Co-op student for my own company.' " Companies with an interest in the U of A School of Business Co-op Program should contact either Program Director Brent Collingwood (brent.collingwood@ualberta.ca) or administrator Michelle Height (michelle.height@ualberta.ca).

Or simply telephone the U of A School of Business: 780.492.2320.