We conclude that such work provides students with valuable training, both in the academic and non-academic worlds, as well as being rewarding and enjoyable in itself. In it, internships are often viewed as one cornerstone of courses in applied geography. This paper discusses the advantages and weaknesses of cooperative education compared with internships. In many respects cooperative education represents a refinement of the internship concept. The chief advantage in its approach lies in the closer relationship which it helps to develop between course objectives and the recruiting and training needs of organisations.
Students benefit through better educational experiences and enhanced employment opportunities.
The geography students who enrol in these programmes, in contrast with those in the traditional geography programme, generally are older, married, and female. Non-white students enrol in greater numbers in the 'Weekend College' than in the traditional programme. Introductory geography courses are more frequently offered. In comparison with the students in the traditional programme, the older students in the 'College' are highly motivated and receive higher grades.