The Graduands and Alumni Relations Officer carries out employability skills training for finalists

In the endeavor to nur-ture competence and

excellence among the stu-dents, the Graduands and Alumni Relations Office conducted an exit training that will continue to hype the students in the job market and society as a whole.

This event was held on 9th July 2015 at Thika main cam-pus indoor games arena. It was graced by a team from Storymoja and that from ICEA lion Thika. The training was attended by students from various schools that are now in their final semester. The training intended to impart various skills in job search, transformation of trained skills into job creation and career advancement.

Ms. Dorcas Kinyua took students through the interview etiquette, while ICEA Mr. Wilson Nganyi Omukara took them through the saving culture and investments.

Additionally the students who attended got an opportunity to register with Tukoworks, an online site that offers free soft skills short courses, scholarship

opportunities, entrepreneurship and a database for job seekers and employers to those signed in among other benefits. The Tuko-works team was led by Mr. Peter

Ms. Dorcas brand manager at Storymoja pub-lishers giving a talk during the exit training

Tukoworks team led by Mr. Mwangi (in black) registering the students shortly after the exit training

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Mwangi. Tukoworks is a corporate social responsibility project of Microsoft Corporation to enhance youth employability.

Talking during the presentation, dubbed as ‘interview is like dat-

ing’ Ms. Dorcas emphasized on the need to dress for your success and effective personal presentations during interviews. Story Moja team welcomed internship opportuni-ties from the finalists. The intern-ship program would narrow to harnessing the capabilities of the interns even as they generate in-come through creativity.

The ICEA Lion Mr. Wilson dissected the need to sow a sav-

ing culture within oneself among youths which would translate to bounty reaping in future.

The saving culture is not only an investment but also a security in a young person’s life as Mr.Wilson would put it.

During the training, finalists were encouraged to capitalize on their individuality. Embracing uniqueness would secure final-ists a niche in the market and give them a competitive advantage.

Individuality as a pillar of personal branding trapped within it is developing the right values, effective packaging and maximizing on your strength as you work on the weaknesses to work for you.

Mr. Afubwa Musumi, Graduan-ds and Alumini Relationsz Officerfacilitating the exit training .

Mr. Omukara from ICEA Lion insurance com-pany giving a talk on finanancial management during the exit training

Alumni taskforce hosted by Graduands and Alumni Relations Officer.

The meeting of alumni taskforce (interim officials) that have put

Mount Kenya University Alumni Association(MKUAA) active was held on 11th July 2015. Among the issues discussed was the progress of univer-sity’s approval of the proposed alum-ni constitution that will help govern MKUAA’s operations, report on MKU 2013 employability survey, and the student alumini mentoring initiative. “I am proud of the progress so far on how the univer-sity management structures

have fast tracked the con-stitution. I appreci-ate the Vice –Chancel-lor Prof. Stanley W. Wau-do for the good

work to-

Students present were also advised on networking and not using it as a direct fixation for job opportuni-ties. However, the need for creating good contacts would not be em-phasized enough. Rich networking projects your elevation while poor networking is an explanation of how stunted you will remain in your growth.

Talking after the training Ms. Asun-ta Wambui, one of the finalists tak-ing Bachelor degree in business management, said the exit training not only served as an eye opener but also a supplement that will enhance her growth thanks to the Graduands and Alumni Relations Office.

The exit training is both a success and an exhibit to the university’s commitment in ensuring stu-dents’ success in their respective career pursuit.

Mr. Afubwa Musumi Graduands and Alumni Relations Officer.

gether with his team”. said the chairman, Mr. Gakera Kahara

The report on the alumni survey em-ployability was also discussed. It was great that with the 2013 class sampled, graduates of MKU were among those highly sought for having secured jobs by over 50%. It was not just employment but more than 10% of the 2013 gradu-ates were entre-preneurs in various industries led by ICT sector. It was also not-ed that the 70% of the job opportu-nities were in the private sector. This concurred with the April 2014 report on employers’ preference of gradu-ates from various universities in Ke-nya. MKU was rated among top 10 universities that attract employers. The survey was carried out by Corpo-rate Staffing, a local human resource firm. In this regard, we thumb up the MKU staff and management for the competence and excellency among the graduates. One of the recom-mendations of MKUAA was to en-hance the employability skills train-ing as a compulsory soft skill course.

The task force proposed to work with management to realize the same. The official supported that the alumini As-sociation members will be participat-ing in various employability skill train-

ing as part of their giving back to their alma mata as through mentoring the younger up-coming alum-ni (students).

The Mount Kenya univer-

sity Alumni Association members

will launch the student Alumni men-toring initiative in October 2015. The mentorship initiative is purposed to foster the student professional and career growth to enable them transit smoothly to productive life as soon as they complete their studies. This is in-tended to network the students to the experienced alumni to nurture them in various tasks ahead.

The Alumni taskforce thus advise the current students to be prepared to face the world of job market with a stromg inclination to private sector

The Mount Kenya University Alumni Association taskforce dur-ing a meeting held on 11th July 2015.