In an effort to bridge the gap which exists between
academia and industry, the Design and Technology (DTI) has organized a two-day
Career Fair to help its learners familiarize themselves with career
opportunities available on the job market and how to secure them.
The two-day event brought together approximately 29
top-tier companies from various industries, including agriculture, information
technology, manufacturing, oil and gas etc.
The event provided learners with the opportunity to
network with potential employers to gain insights into internship and
employment opportunities directly from the representatives of the participating
companies.
Learners took part in speed interviews and networking
sessions to test their technical and professional skills as part of their
transitioning into the world of work.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Constance Swaniker, Founder
and CEO of DTI, remarked, “At DTI, we believe that it is critical to prepare
and equip our learners with the necessary employable skills so that they can
succeed in the workplace.”
According to the Institute of Statistics, Social and
Economic Research (ISSER), only 10% of graduates find jobs after their first
year of completing their tertiary education. This raises questions over the
impact of the various interventions instituted by the government and
institutions to address the situation.
“Ensuring that learners are employed or start their own
businesses after completing their studies remains DTI’s top priority. We are
excited to use an event like this to connect our learners with recruiters to
facilitate internship and employment opportunities,” she further stated.
Interacting with the learners, Akua Bema Asante,
Assistant Registrar at the University of Professional Studies, who was the
special guest spoke on the relevance of soft skills in the world of work, and
advised them to continuously reinvent themselves to add value to their
professional careers. She noted that this will go a long way to guarantee that
they become successful professionals in their chosen fields.
“You must constantly pursue new and innovative ways to
refreshen your knowledge and skills in order to keep up with the rapidly
changing world of work. The world is constantly changing, and you must adapt in
order to meet the changing demands of consumers and industry,” he added.
The fair forms part of DTI’s effort to provide learners
with employment resources and opportunities in order to ensure their
employability after completing their programme.
Since inception, the institute has proven its resolve to
change the narrative for excellent TVET education in Africa and is committed to
providing the best education attainable anywhere in the world.
The Industry and Workplace Coordinator at DTI, Mr.
Mubarik Ahmed, reiterated the importance of collaboration between academia and
industry. He stated that “while the fair provides an opportunity for the
corporate Ghana to engage with DTI, it also helps the Institute gain an
understanding of the opportunities and challenges that exist within the corporate
workplace.”
“The fair has not only provided a platform for companies
to engage with students on various career development levels, but has also
been an opportunity for them to get to know the learners beyond their CV
and academic qualifications,” he concluded.
Companies that participated in the fair expressed their
excitement for the event and commended DTI for providing a forum for learners
to learn about career opportunities and the requirements for professional
success.
Learners also displayed some of prototype products
developed and other projects as part of the fair.
Source:myjoyonline