Meet JADA: The AI Assistant Expanding Job Opportunities for University of Waterloo Students

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As the hiring landscape shifts, Waterloo is ensuring its students stay ahead. Many employers are moving beyond traditional job postings, opting instead for direct recruitment or AI-driven hiring processes. At the same time, students are balancing coursework while applying to more positions than ever, making a faster, more efficient job search essential to securing the right co-op opportunity. 

“We want our students to have access to industry’s best opportunities and our companies to have access to the best co-op talent in Canada,” said Dr. Norah McRae, Associate Provost for Cooperative and Experiential Education at the University of Waterloo. “JADA provides a new way to both connect students and employers and provide a more personalized experience.” 

With its AI-powered assistant, JADA also offers real-time support, answering common co-op and career-related questions about job applications, deadlines, and interview preparation. By reducing the need to search across multiple websites or wait for an appointment with an advisor, JADA gives students more time to focus on securing the right opportunity. 

“Having time back gives us more time to apply for more jobs and have a better study term,” Yan said. 

AI’s Expanding Role in Education 

JADA is part of a larger strategy at the University of Waterloo to integrate AI into career development, student support, and university operations. 

Launched during the pandemic with Microsoft as a key partner, the Waterloo Experience Accelerate (WE Accelerate) Program was one of the first major initiatives to help students prepare for AI-driven careers. Since Spring 2021, the Microsoft stream of the program has provided hands-on training in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data analytics, equipping 1,664 students with skills in technologies that are increasingly shaping industries. 

“We created the Microsoft Azure and AI stream for the WE Accelerate Program to help students develop the skills employers are looking for,” said Dr. Elka Walsh, Americas Higher Education Transformation Lead at Microsoft. “Students who complete the stream, and real-world project, earn their first Microsoft certification, giving them a competitive edge in the job market.”