Setting students on a successful career trajectory was at the heart of an event recently hosted by the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS).

Senior Lecturer Mandie Richards, who is the Faculty’s Transformation Forum Chairperson, said the Career Hook-up and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, was a collaboration with PAWA Africa, its All4Youth Programme and their partners Nestle, NielsenIQ, ABB and Publicis Groupe Africa.

The objective was to engage with students and to enhance their understanding of the skills, competencies and graduate attributes required and to assist in shaping their futures.

Richards said the Transformation Forum also continuously explores various strategies which aligns to the Focus Areas of CPUT’s One Smart Vision 2030 and engages with industry partners to ensure that curriculum is responsive to the social and economic needs, whilst integrating programmes into the curriculum which are relevant and aligns to industry trends and, in so doing, improves career and employability opportunities.

“Institutions of Higher Learning and academics can no longer work in silos, as the voices of the students, their lived experiences as well as 21^st century skills need to be integrated into the curriculum, thus contributing to positive change and social and economic empowerment of youth and communities.”

Prof Desiree Scholtz, FBMS Assistant Dean: Teaching and Learning, welcomed attendees and told students that the event was an opportunity to learn.

“We have experts in the field to share with you how your future can change for the better. You need to make today the start of a mindset of how you can go about changing your future. The future is not going to happen to you, you need to make it happen.”

More than 200 students across the faculty were given the opportunity to engage with a panel of experts, which included: Shireen Lutchan (NielsenIQ); Noxolo Mnisi (Nestle); Refilwe Mocumi (ABB), Kaylyn Alexander (Publicis Groupe Africa) and the Faculty’s Work Integrated Learning Co-Ordinators, Bonita Allies, Lauren Swart and Beverley Seager.

PAWA Africa Executive Director, Alesimo Mwanga, said the event was important as institutions “sometimes operate in silos from what private sector needs”.

She said it was important to bring together the two worlds, “particularly for the benefit of the students so that they can also hear from industry what is to be required from them to be employable but also for Higher Education Institutions to hear from industry what the gaps are”.

Richards further stated “As graduates are also faced with the stark reality of unemployment, the event allowed for students, together with the All4YOUth partners to explore their side hustles and further create awareness as to entrepreneurial possibilities.

Students were invited to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas in teams at the entrepreneurship bootcamp and provide solutions to address the challenges experienced in communities in a speed pitch. The various pitches were indications of the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of students, when afforded opportunities”.

The winning team provided a solution to load-shedding as it pertains to refrigerator storage for communities, to ensure that their meat does not spoil, and at a nominal fee, and each team member won Uber Eats vouchers. One student also won an Exclusive Books voucher for the best pitch of an idea which was to create a Dial Up App to connect runners who could assist people with errands.

Mwanga added that the event presented an opportunity for dialogue with young people, to hear from them what their perception is of getting employed and what challenges they face.

“I think the engagement was really fruitful.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences partnered with PAWA Africa, resulting in the Shaping Futures Career Virtual Fair, part of the Faculty's Transformation Conversations. The platform was shared with industry leaders from All4Youth, Nestlé, NielsenIQ South Africa, and ABB South Africa, who shared information on bursaries, internships, differently abled internships, apprenticeships, and graduate programmes.

Mandie Richards, a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty and the programme facilitator, indicated that as many students are often unaware of the direction of their careers, the Faculty then assists in shaping futures by partnering with organisations that can guide students through available possibilities and opportunities. Richards further stated that many positions do not even exist as yet, and as the future is being driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), 5IR and the evolving 6IR students must explore opportunities, adapt to change and remain relevant as this is key to their future success.

The virtual fair was attended by over 200 students and staff members, who engaged in an interactive session with industry leaders who shared their insights and guided students on what awaits them in the world of work. The partners shared information that included enhancing students’ skills and talent, building their career portfolios, and emphasising the necessity of integrating 4IR and 5IR skills.

Alesimo Mwanga, executive director at PAWA Africa, asked students, “Have you started working on your career plan?” and elaborated on the need for students to engage in career mapping and networking to work towards achieving their career goals and objectives. Mwanga added that problem-solving abilities, analytical thinking, innovation, and technology skills are required to add value to organisations.

Noxolo Mnisi, the Youth Initiative Lead at Nestlé, raised concerns about the “Triple Gap”, namely Poverty, the Skill Gap and Unemployment, and said the All4Youth movement is a business-driven programme meant to assist youth transition from education and training to employment and was created to address youth unemployment and employability.

Oluwadamilola Adeyinkat, the Human Resources Leader at NielsenIQ, South Africa, shared information as to the role of big data and its relevance to the industry. She further informed us that their organisation was attracted to graduates who were self-starters, team players, and emotionally intelligent, and the Talent Programme afforded opportunities for development via the training curriculum.

Refilwe Mocumi, the Human Resources Services Specialist: Learning & Development at ABB South Africa, engaged students in breaking down gender stereotypes and equal opportunities being afforded via the Young Talent Programmes.

Ortem Callaghan, a Business Information and Administrator Advanced Diploma student, shared her insights on the importance of having a passion for what you do and continuing to develop skills whilst volunteering at organisations.

All partners also advised that recruitment for positions in the industry has changed and that interviews have taken the format of gamification and case studies, as it allows organisations to identify potential employees' problem-solving and analytical abilities.

Richards added that people’s skills are key to ensuring organisational success. Should opportunities not arise, students’ tenacity and innovation will require that they be creators of employment and afford opportunities to youth.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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