College of the North Atlantic - Qatar

Student Work Terms

One of the most effective means of completing the educational and professional development of students is the participation in a work experience program. This combines classroom learning with active participation in the work term. Students are expected to approach their work term assignments in the way they would their future full-time employment. This guide has been prepared to assist students and supervisors in the fulfillment of those expectations.

Aims and Objectives of the Work Term

By the end of the work term placement, students will have demonstrated that they:

• Can satisfactorily perform during the work term
• Have an understanding of the nature of the work performed
• Are receptive to new experiences
• Are able to perform as part of a team
• Are capable of presenting themselves in a professional manner at all times

What is a Work Term?

A work term is an experiential academic course that aims to integrate the student's academic study with work experience. All students in their final year at the College must register in, and pass, the work term course in order to graduate.

Orientation to Work Term

Orientation sessions will take place twice a semester. Each work term student will be notified and are required to attend the orientation. Attending the orientation is mandatory and without it students will not be allowed to start their work term.

Work Term Form

All students due for work term will receive their work term form (see forms section) via email from the Work Term Coordinator. The students will then fill the form electronically and send it as an attachment to the Work Term Coordinator. The student has to register for work term on the registration day in the same way as the rest of the academic courses.

Resume

Non-sponsored students and those sponsored by the Ministry of Education due for work term must send an updated resume to the Work Term Coordinator as soon as they receive the form. The Work Term Coordinator will review the resume and forward it to training providers.

Scheduling Interviews

Students will need to submit their current resume and fill out the work term form before they will be scheduled for interviews. Interviews will be held on campus or at the place of business. Students must prepare for the interviews appropriately (i.e. research the organization's profile, dress appropriately and be familiar with basic interview skills).

Student Placements

Student placements in the respective organizations are decided through two methods.

• Offers by organizations for placements of students with high GPA scores
• Face-to-face interviews with students by representatives of the organizations

Students are expected to be proactive and work collaboratively with the Work Term Coordinator to find suitable placements for them. This shared effort would help add invaluable set of skills to the student, making the work term a valuable experiential course (e.g. job search techniques, time management, prioritizing, weighing options and communicating).

Extra Time for Academic Requirements

Students completing other courses at the College while on their work term will have their work term further extended by two additional weeks for Information Technology and one week for Business Studies and Engineering, to make up for the time lost due to the academic requirements. Student doing courses during the work term have to provide a copy of their class schedule to the Work Term Coordinator and their respective employer before they start their work term program.

Work Term Registration

Students have to register for work term. Work term is an academic course (practical one); it takes place outside the college, but it needs registration same as other academic courses. Without registration, student work cannot be assessed. The work term office doesn't register the student; each student has to go on registration day and register for the work term. Each program has a different code under which work term students are registered:

Business Studies

Office Administration/Executive - Work Exposure (OJ 1240) 6 weeks

Office Administration/Certificate - Work Exposure (OJ 1100) 3 weeks

Business Management Accounting - Work Exposure (OJ 1520) 4 weeks

Business Administration Certificate - Work Exposure (OJ 1100) 2 weeks

Business Management Human Resource - Work Exposure (OJ 1540) 4 weeks

Business Management Marketing - Work Exposure (OJ 1530) 4 weeks

Banking and Finance Level 1 - Work Exposure (OJ 1540) 4 weeks

Banking and Finance Level 2 - Work Exposure (OJ 1640) 7 weeks

Information Technology

Information Technology - IT Computer Support Specialist CSS

Work Term (WT 1180)15 weeks - IT Internet Application Development

Work Term (WT 1180)15 weeks - IT Programmer Analyst

Engineering Technology

Work Term (WT1180)15 weeks - Engineering

Chemical Laboratory Technician Certificate Work Placement (WT1460) 7 weeks

Work Hours

Students are expected to follow the work hours of the business to which they are assigned. They are also expected to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of business and to refrain from leaving before the scheduled end of the business day. Adherence to the times established for any breaks during the day (e.g. lunch, coffee) is equally important.

Attendance

Students are expected to maintain 100 percent attendance. Only under extenuating circumstances will absenteeism from the work term be excused.

College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) expects students to adhere to the work term standards of the employers.

CNA-Q should be advised if there are any ongoing issues with students work performance, attendance or attitude.

If a student is sick and will be absent from work, s/he must notify both his/her Work Term Supervisor and the Work Term Coordinator at CNA-Q prior to the start of the work day.

Personal Appearance and Conduct

Students are expected to dress appropriately at all times and to conduct themselves in a professional manner, bearing in mind the cultural and religious values and sensitivities of the country they live in.

Daily Activities Log (see Forms section in Work Term Manual)

Students will maintain a daily record of activities while in the place of business. This will include a listing of the tasks performed, equipment operated, activities participated in, etc. They should also analyze the benefits they have gained from those experiences. The Work Term Supervisor should sign off each week before it is submitted to the Work Term Coordinator at CNA-Q.

Students must submit both the evaluation form and the daily activities log within one week of completing their work term.

The work term has four evaluations

• Employer evaluation
• Students daily reports
• Instructor evaluation
• Work Term Coordinator evaluation (attending orientation, communication during work term and feedback, submitting evaluation & daily activities on time)

Site Visits - Instructor Evaluation (see Forms section)

Each School will schedule their site visits in the middle of the training. The site visit is to see how the work term is going. Students and Direct Supervisors will be contacted to set the time which suits both of them.

Instructors will use a standardized evaluation form for the site visit. A copy of the completed form will be given to the Work Term Coordinator after completion of the site visit.

Evaluation Report and Daily Activities Log

Students need to submit their evaluation form and their daily activities log to the work term office within one week of finishing their work term.

Failed Work Term

A student failing a work term will receive an incomplete on their transcript; however, if they are eligible to continue into the next academic term, the following will need to be done:

• Work Term Coordinator will inform the School.
• Work Term Coordinator has to inform the Sponsor Coordinator to take the necessary action.
• Work Term Coordinator will record the grade.
• Work Term Coordinator will schedule an appointment with the student to discuss the employer evaluation and identify areas where improvement is needed.
• The student will need to register for the new work term.

Fees

Fees are to be paid for complete semesters, winter and fall (complete payment). If the student has paid his/her fees in full, no further payment is required for intersession and summer semesters.

If the student has been a part-time student in the winter or fall semester, s/he will need to bring his/her fees up-to-date during the intersession or summer semester.

Dropping Work Term

If a sponsored student needs to drop a work term, sponsor approval is required. The student will need to complete a drop-off form at the Registrar's Office and the sponsor has to sign it.

Non-sponsored students have to check with the Work Term Coordinator.

Student Checklist

• Register for Work Term at the Registrar's Office - the same way you register for your courses, as work term is an academic course. Filling out the work term form is not part of the registration process, as it is one of the Work Term Office forms.
• Attend work term orientation.
• Fill out the work term form and submit it to the Work Term Coordinator.
• Maintain the daily activities log.
• Be in touch with the Work Term Coordinator at the College with updates on work term.
• Provide the CNA-Q Work Term Coordinator with both the evaluation form and the daily activities log within one week of completing the work term.

Working Tips

• Respect your supervisor and listen to their suggestions. Giving respect will ensure you get it back.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude towards your work.
• Be punctual.
• Take initiative and ask for work when you are not busy.
• Complete your tasks in an organized way.
• Be confident (by exhibiting good communication skills, asking questions, and giving feedback).
• Be professional (respect your work and show positive attitude towards it).
• Be reliable (exhibit performance that shows you can be trusted and counted on).
• Be a team player.
• If you are not given enough work, speak with your direct supervisor. If the situation does not improve, contact the CNA-Q Work Term Coordinator.
• If you have a problem at work, speak first with your employer; if it is not solved then contact the CNA-Q Work Term Coordinator. Don't just drop work, or be absent.
• Mobile phones should be placed on silent; calls should be short and limited to important calls only. One of the issues that are frequently brought forward by employers as causing problems and wasting time are mobile phone calls made or received by students during work.