22nd Mar, 2017 – Vodafone Uganda is participating in the NSSF Career Expo happening between 13th March and 25th April 2017 at different universities. The career expo is a platform that prepares university students for work after university. It brings together employers, recruiters and job seekers, with professionals in different fields to talk to the university students, and share advice for careers that lie ahead of them.
The Vodafone Uganda University Youth Programme is designed to support young people explore, realize and appreciate their potential and uniqueness. “The Brand Ambassador programme, one of our flagship programmes is one that allows personal experience at work in the different company departments to enable interns gain on the-job training and make informed career decisions. Our partnership with NSSF on this cause is to inspire a generation of innovative, entrepreneurial and forward thinking young leaders with a can-do attitude”, said Progress Chisenga, Marketing Director Vodafone.
According to ACODE youth unemployment and job creation report 2014, youth unemployment stands at between 64% and 70%, and about 400,000 youths are released annually into the job market to compete for approximately 9,000 available jobs. One of the reason for this influx (according to Mastercard Foundation 2015-16 Youth Think Tank Report), is the skills mismatch in which the formal education system has not produced hands-on skilled young people ready to confront the challenges of securing sustainable employment or growing a profitable business.
Vodafone’s University Youth Programme supports, equips and empowers young people to handle and manage the working world – the Brand Ambassador programme is specific for university students, and aims at equipping undergraduate students for the workplace through internships, mentorship and special projects. A university student in the Brand Ambassador programme gains hands-on work experience, receives mentorship and leadership, enhances professional skills and has an opportunity to earn an income. Selection for the Brand Ambassador programme is based on, among other things, academic prowess and or leadership and social media influence.
Traveline Kezabu, a third-year student studying Bachelor of Economics and Applied Statistics at Kampala International University joined the Brand Ambassador programme last year in October. She is grateful to have made it into the programme where she is gaining the relevant work experience in the Customer service, Marketing and Sales departments. The programme is supple and allows the Brand Ambassadors the flexibility to carry on with classes without any clashes. She recommends the programme to all university students, the experience they will gain is invaluable.
At this year’s NSSF Career Expo, the topical issues on career development, employer expectations, career progression and job matching will be discussed. The expo will be held at 11 universities across the country; Makerere University, Makerere University Business School, Kyambogo University, Kampala International University, Uganda Christian University, Ndejje University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University, Uganda Martyrs University (Nkozi) and Muteesa Royal University.
