Co-op Program
Introduction
The Co-op Program strengthens students’ industrial experience before graduation by allowing students to complete an industrial project that resembles a Final Year Project (FYP) in a company under the supervision of an Industrial Supervisor from the company and an Academic Supervisor from HKUST while undergoing a 5-month internship at the company.  Upon successful completion of the Co-op Program, the student meets both Industrial Experience and FYP graduation requirements.


Arrangement
  • The Co-op program MUST be at least 5-month long.  It can take place in either the Fall semester (e.g. September to January of the following year) or the Spring semester (e.g. February to June).  The exact start and end dates are to be discussed and agreed between the company and the student.
  • Students are expected to work full time in the company during Co-op.  They may take Leave from Study during the Co-op period.
  • Students are not encouraged to defer their graduation because of the participation in the Co-op program.  They should plan in advance and consult with their advisor(s) on their plan of study and credit overloading so as to complete the degree program within the normal duration of study.
  • Final year and penultimate year undergraduate students in CPEG and CPGBM programs are eligible to apply for the program.
  • Application Timeline: TBC

Assessment
  • Students will be enrolled in CPEG 4910 Co-op Program, a 6-credit course.  Students are NOT required to enroll in CPEG4901/4902/4911/4912 Computer Engineering Final Year Project/Thesis in COMP/ELEC and CPEG 1971 Industrial Experience.
  • Students should submit all assignments on the following platforms by the respective deadlines set:

    A) Final Year Project Management System
    (CSE: https://fypms.cse.ust.hk/    or ECE: https://fypms.ece.ust.hk/)

      • Proposal Report (Deadline: end of 1st month)
      • Progress Report (Deadline: end of 3rd month)
      • Final Report (Deadline: end of final month)
      • Project Poster (Deadline: end of final month)
      • Final Presentation (Deadline: end of final month)

* The Final Presentation will be assessed by a panel including the Industrial Supervisor, Academic Supervisor and 1 extra faculty member from HKUST.
* Since the Co-op period of each student is different, individual students should refer to the Final Year Project Management System for the exact due dates of his/her assignments.

B) SENG Online Internship System (https://e-advising1.seng.ust.hk/cgi-bin/internship/index.php)

  • Application Form & Contract/ Offer Letter (Deadline: end of 1st week)
  • Supervisor Feedback Form (Deadline: end of final month)
  • Internship Report (Deadline: end of final month)
  • Survey (Deadline: end of final month)

* To be assessed by Internship Coordinator of the student’s Academic Department/ Program.
* Students should indicate in the Application Form and Internship Report that the internship is part of the Co-op Program.
* The Internship Report should include student’s learning reflection, description of matters learnt during the internship etc.  It CANNOT be a repetition of any of the assignments in A.


Benefits
  • To the Co-op Student:
    • A Co-op student can earn 5-month industrial & work experience with a salary or stipend
    • With advanced planning, a Co-op student can complete the Co-op (and fulfil Final Year Project and Industrial Experience graduation requirements) without delay to graduation
    • A Co-op student will work on an Industrial Project under the supervision of 2 supervisors (1 from the company as Industrial Supervisor and 1 from the student’s Academic Department in HKUST as Academic Supervisor)
    • A Co-op student may receive a return offer from the company

Responsibilites
  • Of the Co-op Student:
    • Complete the Industrial Project and submit all required assignments on or before the respective deadlines set
    • Complete other tasks assigned by the Industrial Supervisor
    • Meet with the Academic Supervisor ONCE every month (A Co-op student must be proactive in identifying a date and time convenient for the company for him/her to return to HKUST to meet with his/her Academic Supervisor)

Enquires

Prof. Gibson Lam
CPEG Co-op Program Coordinator
Tel: 23586984
Email: gibson@cse.ust.hk