Leadership course for students gives job market edge

All students graduating from one of Kenya’s top universities may benefit from a free certificate course in leadership development, designed to give them a competitive edge in the workplace and job market – the first of its kind in the East African country.

The course, which may be undertaken by anybody interested who is graduating from Kenyatta University, as soon as they complete their degree studies, is intended to build skills in leadership and workplace competencies, as well as life skills that are not part of disciplines studied in preparation for professional life.

“The university appreciates the fact that pursuing a degree in an area of specialisation is not always enough, and in today’s competitive world students must learn skills that complement their academic and professional qualifications”, said Vice-chancellor Olive Mugenda at the launch.

The course is being offered under the Growing Leaders programme initiated by the university three years ago. The training methodology is highly participatory, with facilitators drawn from different schools and departments of the university.

In addition to being trained and mentored in leadership skills, students will be exposed to high-achieving role models and will be trained in areas such as responsible citizenship, patriotism, social skills and inter-personal relationships.

“These skills will include the ability and determination to work hard, the ability to focus on tasks, the ability to work independently and the capacity to work in teams with people from diverse backgrounds,” said the vice-chancellor.

According to Philemona Ndambuki, programme director, the course was conceived in response to concerns by employers and the public that new graduates lacked leadership and management skills and a sense of responsibility.

Its mission, she said, was to create a “critical mass” of young leaders and to provide them with cutting-edge skills that would make them highly competitive in the workplace.

COMMENT

This is laudable! I would love to see this happen in Nigeria also.

Rao Ogbemudia on the University World News Facebook page