From ‘School of Corporate World’
View(s):(London & Colombo) NEXT CAMPUS launched it’s much awaited UK Degree programme in September with an unmatched combination of internships in reputed companies along with personal coaching from renowned CEOs to produce a new breed of ‘management trainees’ that are sought after by many leading multinationals and local companies.
Many students who completed the GCE A/L examination this August and their parents said this is ‘fresh breadth of air’ and said they welcome this type of degree programmes that mold students from school to take up top management trainee programmes in leading companies.
Ms. Kumudu Abeywardene, programme director of NEXT CAMPUS who was busy planning the next intake of just 30 students for this
Ms. Kumudu Abeywardene, programme director of NEXT CAMPUS
unique programme, took some time off to answer a few direct questions, so that our readers would get a clear picture of what this new programme is all about!
Q. What a campaign, from school to corporate world! What is this journey about?
Well, I must say that we worked towards this for the last three years. We didn’t want to put something that is ‘run of the mill’ or what is currently available. We studied the market; we spoke to young graduates and their parents, also we spoke to companies and their HR directors. There was one thing in common we found; most of the graduates couldn’t find suitable employment after they completed their degrees and companies repeatedly complained that the skill sets of fresh graduates were not what they wanted!So we though we will close that gap in the market!
Q. How is the competition for jobs for fresh graduates?
As you know there are only so many good jobs at entry level for graduates. There are many qualified graduates today but you need to be the best to get in to these jobs. Most fresh graduates like to join a reputed company as a ‘management trainee (MT)’ or what is known as a ‘graduate in training (GIT)’ in many US companies. You many be surprised that some of the reputed companies don’t even advertise but go by references or personal contacts to recruit this handful of fresh graduates. Today even management trainee positions have become a headhunting game!
Q. Why are companies so particular and what do they look for?
See many companies look for the right people as management trainees as they plan to invest a few million rupees over few years to develop them.
If they get the wrong person it’s both a waste of time and money for them. When we spoke to many multinational and local giants they said ‘ we like our management trainees to become directors or heads of function in 10-15 years’. So this is the expectation they have and they want the best. You asked me what they look for. They look for sound knowledge of theory across broad management areas. Also they look for practical knowledge and soft skills like working with others in teams, communications skills, negotiation skills, personal confidence, just to name a few.
Q. So how do you plan to take students from ‘school to corporate world’ as you claim?
Well we offer a total package to the right students. We provide a business degree from a top ranked University in UK (secret! till we launch it in October!!!!). There we give the students most modern up-to-date syllabus from the first world. It’s directly from the University and we don’t see any difference in studying in UK or here. Then we have signed up with many leading companies to provide much needed short internship programmes for our students few times per year, during their study plus some industry visits. This will enable students to see what they learn and allow them to get their ‘hand dirty’ a little bit and bring some wonderful experiences to class when they return. While we are at it, we have a super pool of top managers and CEO’s working with us at NEXT CAMPUS. We will get them to coach these students in groups and one to one so that they start learning what they need in real corporate life. Building soft skills is not classroom stuff; we need proper one-on-one guidance and its very personal. Result is we produce some top management trainee prospects that companies will want for sure! Some of the students will go back as management trainees to the companies they did internships as they know them for real, so no interviews! We will make this happen for lucky 30 students.
Q. Why do you say its open only for 30 students?
Can’t you extend this benefit for more? See good things come in small quantities (laughs)… the truth is we can’t transform more than 30 at once. It requires a dedicated approach for almost three long years to get them to top shape. Our personal challenge is, after three years all will be gone for top management trainee positions when they compete the degree! Well to add icing on the cake we offer free Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM UK) for these students if they wish to get a professional qualification, as today is all about dual qualifications!
NEXT CAMPUS was started by a group of industry professionals in 2007 to provide world-class business education to both full time and part time students. They are a leading education provider conducting programmes in marketing, supply chain and MBAs.
For more information contact
Kumudu Abeywardene
Programme Director | NEXT CAMPUS
327 Havelock Road Colombo 06
0773 720320 or kumudu@next.lk