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Nominate An Industry Partner

ACE-WIL Industry Partner of the Year Award Nominations

ACE-WIL member institutions are encouraged to nominate one (1) Co-op Industry Partner and/or one (1) WIL Industry Partner in other forms of work-integrated learning, with the approval of the industry partner(s) involved. All nomination materials become the property of ACE-WIL to be used in promoting co-operative education and other forms of work-integrated learning.

Deadline to Nominate an Industry Partner is Coming Soon!

Deadline: 9:00am PST, Monday, February 23, 2026

Eligibility

Any ACE-WIL member in good standing may nominate an industry partner for this recognition. The nominated industry partners are reviewed and considered by the ACE-WIL Awards Committee based on their contributions within the past calendar year.

Selection Criteria

  1. Significant involvement with or outstanding contributions to projects or initiatives that benefit Co-op/WIL provincially (i.e., research, sponsorship, advisory committee participation, etc.)
  2. Hired and engaged with Co-op/WIL students in the past calendar year and provided them with high-quality learning opportunities
  3. Provided student(s) with a designated mentor, additional training opportunities, professional development and critical work-place challenges
  4. Created additional value by allowing student to expand their original job description to match their career goals or professional interests
  5. Allowed students to attend decision-making meetings or become involved in challenging projects or assignments beyond the scope of the original job posting
  6. Provided an exceptional opportunity for the student to gain skills, experiences and leadership that would surpass a typical Co-op/WIL opportunity
  7. Attended or supported on-campus events, including career fairs, information sessions, interview clinics, networking events, poster or debriefing sessions, etc.

Learn more about our past ACE-WIL Outstanding Awards recipients.

Evaluation Criteria

The ACE-WIL Awards Committee will use the criteria listed below to evaluate nominees. Nominees are scored initially on a scale of 50 and the value of each criterion is indicated in each of the five statements below. Subsequent review within the committee of the merits of top candidates (based on initial scores) helps to determine the overall winner.

  1. Contribution to Co-operative Education and or Work Integrated Learning – 15 points
    • supporting on-campus events, either financially or with in-kind support, attending information sessions, career fairs, interview clinics, networking events, guest speakers, speaker panels, attending poster or debriefing sessions
  2. Quality of the experience – 10 points
    • link with education, depth of work experience, level of responsibility, access to challenging projects or assignments, etc.
  3. Provision for a professional growth experience – career, competency and/or academic development – 10 points
    • professional development, memberships or participation in professional associations, etc.
  4. Mentoring relationship provided to the student during the work term – 10 points
    • providing networking and informational interview opportunities with other professionals, providing career development advice and guidance, etc.
  5. Evaluator assessment and recognition of additional qualities of nominee – 5 points
    • highlight additional qualities or activities that further demonstrate commitment and excellence as a co-op/WIL industry partner.

Incomplete or improperly prepared nominations will be disqualified by the ACE-WIL Awards Committee.

Nomination Form

Please complete all sections of this nomination form including signatures. By signing this form all parties certify that the information provided is accurate. Any false information provided in a nomination may result in disqualification or retraction of the award.

Industry Partner Award Nomination Form

Institution/Industry Information

I received permission to nominate the industry partner below for the ACE-WIL Co-op Industry Partner of the Year Award and ACE-WIL has my permission to use non-confidential information for promotional purposes.

Industry Partner Information

Nominator: Institution Letter of Support

Nominator: Institution Letter of Support

Submit one (1) typewritten letter of support, upholding your industry partner nominee and that addresses your students’ and your own outstanding experience with this employer. Provided below is the scoring criteria for the awards. Consider including student testimonials. Submit the letter of support on institution letterhead (2 pages maximum, 1-inch margins, 10-point font min.). Where possible be specific with your examples. Please include your signature at the bottom of the letter.

Consider the following when preparing your institution letter of support:

    • How did this industry partner contribute to co-op/WIL (i.e., supporting on-campus events, either financially or with in-kind support, attending information sessions, career fairs, interview clinics, networking events, guest speakers, speaker panels, attending poster or debriefing sessions, etc.)?
    • How has the industry partner enhanced opportunities for the student’s professional growth (i.e., career and competency development)?
    • Can you describe the work experience provided by the industry partner and how it exceeded your students’ and your own expectations in comparison to other industry partners?
    • How does this industry partner foster exceptional experiences for co-op/WIL students?
    • What mentoring relationships were provided to students during their co-op/WIL experiences? Describe any additional intangible qualities of this employer, if any.
    • Has this industry partner worked with your institution in a co-op/WIL capacity for several years, or is this a new partnership that you anticipate nurturing? Discuss your relationship history or, if this is a new partner, describe how this relationship started, and your intentions for future engagement.

Maximum file size: 67.11MB

Please describe the achievements and contributions that highlight the nominee’s advancement and dedication to work-integrated learning (2 pages maximum). Please save and upload as: Nominee’s Surname, First Name, Outstanding Contribution Award – Example: Smith Joseph, ABC Institution, OCA.pdf.

Student Testimonial(s)

Maximum file size: 67.11MB

2 pages maximum.