By Shelia McConnell, MPS Program Officer

In a time when our future seems more uncertain than ever, it can be difficult to choose a career path and stay committed to it. However, as one Waterloo Master of Public Service student discovered, when you do get on that path, it definitely pays off.

When Magdalena Surma first heard of the University of Waterloo’s Master of Public Service (MPS) co-operative program, which was launched in 2010, she knew it was right for her. As a Legal Studies major, she had already committed to a career in government and she believed the MPS program could make this happen.

“I was excited about the content of the program and I felt confident in the co-op program at Waterloo. As an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to benefit from its many connections,” says Magdalena, one of 27 students in the inaugural class.

The program combines eight months of coursework (fall and winter), an 8-month co-operative work experience in government (spring and fall), and a 4-month major team project in the final winter term.

The chief objective is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need for a vital and effective career at any level of government in Canada.

Magdalena already knows where she will be working when she graduates this spring and she thanks the MPS program for giving her the tools to forge her own path: “The courses prepared me for the world of public service, management, and effective team work in the government.”

She is one of eleven students who have been offered further work from their co-op employer. As she explains, “the program provided me with an opportunity to successfully obtain a co-op work term at eHealth Ontario. I began as a Business Analyst for the Consent Management Program and Compliance Enablement Program for the Identity, Access, and Privacy (IAP) department. I was then advanced into a Program Management Contract Engagement Support position.”

Andrew Covey, her supervisor and the Manager of eHealth’s IAP unit, called her performance “impressive” and gave her an outstanding rating on her co-op evaluation. eHealth offered her permanent employment when she graduates, and she has accepted.

“After completing the Major Research Project, I plan on returning to eHealth where I will work on managing more contracts, business cases, and assisting the management team. I feel that this position would be a perfect next step for me to leverage and build on my experience to date all while returning to what I consider to be my family at eHealth.”

“In the end, I strongly feel that this new program has provided me with the tools needed to become an effective leader and problem solver in the public sector.”

- from the Daily Bulletin, Jan. 4, 2012