National Work Integrated Learning Day: Sephora’s Co-op experience shows work-integrated learning in practice

Posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

One Yes and a Co‑op in Japan Helped Sephora Find Her Voice—and Her Path Work integrated learning day graphic
Sephora Révolus completed her Summer 2025 Co‑op work term in Tokyo as a Marketing Intern with the Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers. In this role, she contributed to digital marketing initiatives, supported client engagement activities, and assisted with program development. Her international work term allowed her to apply key concepts from Algonquin College’s Business Management and Entrepreneurship program in a fast‑paced, real‑world environment.

During her term, Sephora helped plan social media content, created posts, designed surveys, and facilitated English cafés — informal sessions that helped Japanese clients build confidence in their conversation skills before travelling abroad. The work demanded strong planning, audience awareness and adaptability, reflecting the entrepreneurial mindset she was developing in class.

“I realized I enjoy communication and creating spaces where people feel confident speaking,” Sephora says.

Sephora began exploring international opportunities early in her program. She worked with the Co-op & Career Centre to understand the requirements of an overseas work term. While many students secure roles through HireAC, she also researched external options and ultimately found her position through Go International’s Working Holiday program.

sephora in japan

Completing an international Co-op required coordination across several areas of the College. Support from the Co-op & Career Centre, International Education Centre, Centre for Accessible Learning and the library helped her navigate travel planning, accessibility considerations and communication across time zones.

Reflecting on her Co-op experience, Sephora says the international work term strengthened her confidence, clarified her interests and demonstrated how experiential learning builds skills that transfer across roles, industries and global contexts. Sephora’s journey highlights the value of work-integrated learning in connecting academic studies with meaningful, real-world experience. Her international Co-op also shows how coordinated support across the College enables students to pursue diverse opportunities while developing skills that apply in global contexts.

On March 25, National Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Day, Algonquin College recognizes the faculty, staff and employer partners who make experiential learning possible. Sephora’s experience illustrates the impact of cross-departmental collaboration — from Co-op student advising to accessibility and international education support — in helping students grow with confidence and purpose.


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