In an effort to bridge the gap between academia and the demands of the job market, the Mastercard Foundation has collaborated with Cyber School to provide mentorship to students on a wide range of work readiness skills.
Over the course of a two-day workshop that commenced on August 25th, nearly 400 students actively participated in engaging sessions led by experts, addressing key concerns about their lacking job preparedness even after excelling academically.
The workshop centered around instilling both soft and professional skills, encompassing areas such as cultivating a positive attitude and a proper mindset in the workplace, effective career planning, crafting impactful CVs and resumes, understanding job interview expectations, nurturing entrepreneurial acumen, and identifying business opportunities.
Among the facilitators, Kagaba Bony particularly highlighted the critical issue of graduate readiness, shedding light on employers’ apprehensions regarding the inadequacy of skills in recent graduates. Kagaba Bony emphasized, “Many employers express frustration over universities sending graduates into the job market without the essential skills.”
Kagaba further illuminated the post-graduation dilemma, revealing that out of the 700,000 students who graduate each year, a staggering 87% struggle to secure employment, while only 90,000 jobs become available annually.
The second day of the workshop kicked off with a presentation by Destiny Chaiga, a Cyber School facilitator, focusing on entrepreneurship and identifying business opportunities.
Chaiga highlighted that entrepreneurship revolves around problem-solving, stating, “By identifying problems, we can discern gaps in the market and leverage them to create solutions.”
Emphasizing the role of entrepreneurship as a catalyst for addressing real-world challenges, Chaiga stressed that by identifying market voids, students can transform obstacles into opportunities, by becoming problem solvers and innovators.
Denis Oketa, representing Cyber School, reiterated the institution’s commitment to shaping students’ futures through comprehensive training and coaching. Oketa affirmed, “At Cyber School, we are dedicated to embarking on this journey of training and coaching alongside you, so that we can nurture your potential into something remarkable.”
One of the mentorship benefactors, Deus Musonge, a Journalism and Public Relations Student expressed satisfaction drawn from the workshop, “it was worth my time, I have learnt the difference between a CV and a resume and how to craft the two.” said Muwonge.
Just two weeks ago, on August 15th, 2023, the Mastercard Foundation and Cyber School Technology Solutions unveiled a content digitalization hub atthe University.
This state-of-the-art e-learning facility is set to revolutionize education delivery by seamlessly integrating technology into the learning process.
The mentorship workshop provides a glimpse into the dynamic initiatives that Cyber School and the Mastercard Foundation have planned for Nkumba University students over the next five years, further solidifying their commitment to advancing education and equipping students for success.
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