The School of Finance and Banking (SFB) Friday held a career day with several facilitators formulating ways to help students acquire practical skills in preparation for future employment.

SFB resolved to pioneer the setting up of career centres in Rwanda ahead of other universities.

Prof. Erasmus Kaijage, the Vice- Rector Academics, urged the students to join the Career Centre since it is a bridge the students use to cross from the academic to the world of work.

The employers were reminded that the universities are giving theoretical skills but not on the job training, placing an onus on the employers to train the students.

"Students should acquire skills that are needed at bigger markets rather than enjoying studying what is not needed by the society and won’t help them,” cautioned Kaijage.

Juliet Muhongerwa the Human Resource Manager at Rwanda Commercial Bank [BCR] advised the students to develop a spirit of team-work.

"Students should enjoy starting at a lower level where they could learn from experience rather than elevating themselves in the field that they are not used to,” she said Muhongerwa encouraged the students to specialise as a way of focusing on particular goals in future.

She further said that internships should be prolonged to three months instead of two in order to enable students acquire more practical skills.

Most companies that facilitated the career day promised the students that the issue of experience when getting jobs will no longer be a barrier.

Kezia Kilongi, the Head of the Career Centre at SFB said the institution will be delivering practical skills to equip the students in preparation for the job search after school.

The career day at SFB was initiated by AIESEC an international organisation that assists young people to discover and develop their potential. In 2007 it helped students go for internships in various countries.

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