Equip students with skills for job market, PS urges institutions

KNA by Samuel Waititu

The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Higher Education and Research Dr. Beatrice Inyangala has underscored the need to prepare students for a changing world of work.

She said institutions should assist students to focus on critical thinking, adaptability and creativity instead of memorization of facts.

She was speaking at the University of Embu during the first inaugural annual career week which aimed at assisting students to acquire mentorship and guidance and help them transition into the job market smoothly.

The PS said the job market is evolving rapidly due to technological advancements and automation, requiring individuals to continuously update their skills to remain relevant in the workforce.

“Right now, we are in the fourth industrial revolution where things are changing fast and the world of work is dictated by technology, the internet of things, blockchain technology, virtual and augmented reality,” she said.

This, she said, calls for students to reorient themselves to acquire the necessary skills and competences that will help them adapt in the world driven by technology.

“We want students when they come out of university, to think beyond the world of employment on how they can create opportunities to employ others,” she said

She said her department is working closely with universities to popularize and implement programs that help youths to transition into the workplace successfully.

Towards this, Dr. Inyangala said the government will strengthen universities alumni networks to help students build social capital that will land them opportunities out there.

Additionally, the PS said in a bid to strengthen the bridge between universities and the job industry, the government is working on incentives that can enable industries to offer more opportunities to students to gain practical skills.

Beyond the borders, the PS said through the Ministry of Labor, the government is pursuing labor migration agreements with many countries to get jobs in the global market for students.

“We are training our students for the global market because we want their mindset to change right from when they are still at the university so that they pursue these opportunities in Kenya or out there,” she said.

University of Embu Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi said the career week will be an annual event that will greatly assist students build necessary networks and gain insights into job market expectations.

“Students will have interactive sessions with different industry players where they will even be taught how to seek jobs, prepare their CVs as well as for the interview in addition to how to be entrepreneurs themselves,” he said.