Financial Times

With the growing need for university students to be made more ‘marketable’ for private sector jobs Carson Cumberbatch & Company Ltd, is among a group of Colombo firms which would ensure graduates entering the job market annually, are armed with some of the skills sought by the private sector.

In line with this vision, the company is holding its annual convention for undergraduates titled “Achieve True Potential by Developing Right Behavioral Competencies,” on August 14 at the BMICH with the participation of 640 undergraduates, along with the support of several leading local universities.

The aim of the workshop is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed for private sector jobs by developing communication abilities and fostering a superior work ethic, the organizers told reporters last week.

They said the private sector was supporting universities to grow more now, than in the past because they recognised the importance of developing skills and potential of young people today.

Bennett Patternott, Carson’s General Manager in charge of Group Human Resources said, “students of today make the leaders of tomorrow.”

Experience of working with career guidance units of universities has triggered the thought of extending the facilitation to all universities, enabling a larger population to benefit and also bring about the much needed interaction among university students, offering a platform to share knowledge.”

The company, he said, wants to develop the capabilities of students and undergraduates to be the lasting contribution to the socio economic prosperity of the country.

Also present at the media briefing were Chandima Gunawardana, Director, Carson Cumberbatch & Company Ltd, Professor P. Hewage, Director of the career guidance unit at the university of Ruhunu, Ajith Mendis, Director, Career Guidance Unit at the University of Kelaniya and Charles Fernando, Director, Career Guidance Unit at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura. According to Charles Fernando, “When relevant and meaningful higher education is there, the role of career guidance would be to ensure the transition from education to the world of work.”

However, he said, increasing the quality of higher education is a tedious and slow process. Saying that universities should work closely with the private sector to ensure that students are equipped with theory as well as the practical skills needed to succeed in the work place. While Kelaniya University’s Ajith Mendis felt, students had to be marketable for private sector jobs.