Victoria University has launched its Career Readiness and Employability programme, which, it says, will change the education landscape in this country.
Under the programme, Ugandan students will get placements in the UK, Uganda, and Germany.
Speaking at the launch of the programme on Wednesday, 03 May 2023, Dr Lawrence Muganga, the Victoria University Vice Chancellor, said it is their role to transform higher education to meet the emerging challenges of the times and the future by going beyond conventional approaches.
“Through our Career Readiness and Employability Programme, we nurture our students to enter the workforce with knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to a particular career path. It includes a range of factors such as education, work experience, and vocational training,” he said.
“The Career Readiness and Employability programme is an avenue that reinforces authenticity for our students, influencing them to be globally relevant and impactful, not only academically, but also in their contribution to their society’s well-being. Through this Programme, the University continues to reveal its unwavering commitment to being recognized as one of the top innovation universities in the country and the world,” he added.
Dr Muganga said the program will start with Hospitality and IT graduates among others.
Alongside this Programme, the University has unveiled its 2023 Career Ambassador and launched a new education turn-around model, the VU Block Model, meant to change higher education teaching on the continent.
“Our motivation is to give our learners what they want — relevant complex experiences that prepare them for the challenging future. Our authentic learning education model focuses on experiential and work-integrated learning, where our students can learn by doing real-job placements that last throughout one’s study period,” the Vice Chancellor said.
Dr Muganga explained that under the programme, students will access relevant internships in their areas of specialization, study tours, exchange programmes for experience and exposure, creativity, and expert mentorship for those with life-changing ideas to be turned into innovation and start-ups, even to generate more jobs.
“Our Career Readiness and Employability coaches will support our students in finding suitable careers by focusing on their strengths and what’s important to them. This CR&E Programme will help us produce outstanding employment-ready graduates,” the management asserted.
“Through this CR&E programme, we continue to attract partners worldwide, leaning into our internationalization pillar that supports our quest to build a distinctive future. This Programme opens our students and graduates to more significant opportunities for global advancement and a broader labour market. This plan explains why we have launched our Overseas Programme for graduates and students of Nursing and Midwifery, Information Technology, and Tourism and Hospitality.”
The university’s graduates have already secured companies abroad willing to employ them as soon as they graduate. Some will travel in and out of the country during the summer for work under the institution’s IT and Tourism and Hospitality Programme for Graduates and students in Germany, thanks to Arbeitsvermittlung Westfalen-Lippe company in Germany. In the United Kingdom, they have partnered with CWG Recruit to support their graduate nurses and midwives to secure employment placements.
As part of the CR&E Programme, the University also launched its 2023 Career Ambassador, Sheebah Karungi.
“Sheebah is the true epitome of perseverance and hard work. Her success story is a testament to every young person’s potential, and we are proud to have her as our 2023 Career Ambassador. She dreamt big to excel amidst several storms in her life; we teach, believe, and support all our students to dream big, and she will be a living example for them. Sheebah was born and raised by a single mother in Kawempe, a Division, and suburb of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Despite dropping out of school in Senior Two, she started dancing for money at 15 and developed a successful solo career in music,” the management said.
They added that they support all students who think or are ready to think and dream big, just as Sheebah did and they are to nurture people’s dreams and innovations through the training they receive.
“As our 2023 Career Ambassador, Sheebah will exceptionally be our voice in explaining the value of this Programme to students, employers, parents, and graduates. She epitomizes what we believe in. Through this CR&E programme, we aim to raise an army of career-ready graduates who are globally relevant and impactful academically and in their contribution to society’s well-being. Through the Career Readiness and Employability Program, we will inspire millions of other young people worldwide to unlock their full potential and achieve excellence.”