Coding for Impact: How Co-op on the EDGE helped Liam Support a Global Education Startup
The Co‑op on the EDGE (COTE) program continues to evolve how students gain work experience by embedding them directly into the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Instead of traditional placements, students collaborate with founders on real projects that shape the trajectory of early-stage ventures. They also participate in EDGE learning modules where mentorship helps them design, test, and refine their own business ideas. The result is a co‑op model that blends practical skill‑building with entrepreneurial thinking, something that benefits both the students and the ventures they support.
For Liam Nicol, a Computer Science Game Engineering student in the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, COTE offered a chance to apply his technical abilities in a new context while learning how digital tools support business growth. Liam worked with Dr. Bolanle Adewusi (PhD), founder of The Scholarship Whizz, a global education consulting company that helps students secure scholarships and admissions worldwide. His role focused on strengthening the company’s WordPress website, a key platform for client engagement and service delivery. Liam improved site performance, enhanced navigation and accessibility, integrated CRM and automation tools, and documented processes to support long-term scalability. Dr. Adewusi says his SEO work was especially impactful, noting that he “added significant value” and rating the experience
a five out of five.
COTE broadened my perspective, strengthened my communication and problem-solving abilities, and helped me envision a future where I can merge game engineering with entrepreneurial ambition.
Liam describes the experience as a turning point in his understanding of how technical skills translate into real-world impact. “I picked up new concepts such as SEO, and I gained experience modifying an existing codebase to implement new functionality,” he explains. Beyond the applied project, he found EDGE’s entrepreneurship programming particularly influential. “It has given me a blueprint for developing my product and working toward a minimum viable product. It’s extremely valuable experience.” He adds that learning about entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship will be “very beneficial going forward.”
Reflecting on his time in COTE, Liam says the program broadened his perspective, strengthened his communication and problem-solving abilities, and helped him envision a future where he can merge game engineering with entrepreneurial ambition. His experience highlights how COTE supports student development while giving ventures access to emerging talent, creating a mutually beneficial model that prepares students for a rapidly changing workforce.
Interested in learning more about how to get involved as an entrepreneur or student in the Co-op on the EDGE program? Write to edge.students@sheridancollege.ca. Explore more about Co-op on the EDGE or read another student success story.