DEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENT : INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT SHOULD NOT BE AN EVENT

 Two weeks ago over 9000 students graduated from Makerere Universities in various academic disciplines. I congratulate the gallant students upon reaching this milestone. Acquiring a degree is not a mean achievement. It shows determination and resilience. In trying to anticipate what next for a university graduate after a long time in books , I realize that adequate preparation is required for a student to excel in the world of work. Without adequate preparation a graduate will find it hard to fit into society and some have cursed why they graduated. 

A number of students enter university without adequate mentorship or guidance and that is where problems start from. Without adequate mentorship, a student who is full of potential is likely to waste time at campus. So in order for university students to maximize their stay at university ,there should be efforts from all stakeholders to ensure that they receive advice from various practitioners. I have met a number of students from university who find it hard to get internship placements and this article is an attempt to solve this dilemma. 

What is the purpose of internship and why should it be given adequate attention? It is said that success meets a prepared person. In the same way internship has a big role to play in making a university student an employable citizen. It is one thing to study books and get all the knowledge and it is quite another to demonstrate the knowledge in the real world of work,. A number of graduates have struggled to find decent employment opportunities because they lack practical skills to demonstrate soft skills that are required by today's employers. A graduate cannot afford to defend his brilliance with only academic grades on the transcript. He or she must prove to the employer about what he or she can do to add value to the company.

Internship plays a critical role in enabling students to prepare for the real world of work. This explains why the whites are very intentional in sending their children to Africa for voluntary work. This should inspire a university student to give adequate attention to the process of internship. The road to a successful internship placement requires adequate preparation and attention to detail. Waiting at the last minute to look for an internship placement is a disservice to a student. The role of looking for an internship placement should not be left to university authorities only. It should be an active process involving the student and the university authorities.

Internship is an opportunity for a university student to explore the world of work and learn how to deal with others. Dealing with others is an ongoing practice and requires curiosity on the part of the student. I have found out from the years of mentoring the youths that some of them do not take time to find out the long term impact of internship placements. They give half hearted efforts. Internship should be treated as an interview because some students have got jobs from the organizations where they previously did internship from.

Internships should not be seen as an avenue to relax from the rigorous demands of academic study but it is a season to shape a university student into a responsible citizen for the future. With  the rate of change in the work place it is ideal for students to take mentorship and coaching seriously.

From the above it can be seen that internship placement is a very important part of the academic journey of a university student and it should not be taken lightly in terms of preparation.

For individual and corporate financial literacy training contact :

Coach Phillip Kiryowa 

Personal Finance Coach(CPC)

Certified Master Trainer, Bank of Uganda

Founder, Advanced Empowerment Link

0752615916

For Financial Freedom and Sustainable Enterprises

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