By Christine Nyakio Mwangi & Patricia Gichuki

The Placement and Career Services (PACS) Department, led by Patricia Gichuki, successfully organized the 2024 Career Fair with the theme ‘Future Ready Talent’ from July 15 -26. The event brought together students, alumni, and industry experts from 75 leading organizations, including USAID, Vivo Energy, Ericsson, UNODC, BAT, Gatsby Africa, Cipla, Cigna and L’Oréal, among others. The 2024 Career Fair was made possible through the sponsorship of USAID, Vivo Energy, Tropical Heat and Little.

Inaugural employer breakfast meeting

To celebrate the World Youth Skills Day and kick off the career fair, PACS organized an employer breakfast meeting. This session brought together over 60 key stakeholders from diverse sectors, fostering networking opportunities and facilitating expert dialogues. The event was a resounding success and was graced by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mwenda Ntarangwi, Dr. Victor Boiyo (DVC- Student Life), and Prof. Amos Njuguna (DVC-TTLR), Dr. Timothy Oketch (Dean, CSOB) and Prof. Shital Maru (Dean, SPHS) were also in attendance. Ms. Elizabeth Wasunna, a USIU-Africa alumna and the General Manager of AAR Healthcare Kenya Ltd., gave an inspiring keynote speech, emphasizing the importance of closer collaboration between industry and academia.

A thought-provoking panel discussion on the role of industry and academia in developing future ready talent was moderated by Jacqueline Lidonde, Head of Partnerships & External Linkages and Dr. Paul Katuse, Associate Professor of Management at USIU-Africa. The panelists, included Dr. Patrick Wamuyu (Associate Dean, USIU-Africa School of Graduate Studies), Brenda Karimi (Talent Acquisition Lead, Boston Consulting Group), Oliver Tambo (Manager HRBP, Cipla), Jemima Karuri (Talent Acquisition Manager & DEI Lead, L’Oréal East Africa), Kion Turner (USAID), and Stephen Mokaya (Lead HRBP - East & Horn of Africa and Greater Zambezi, Nestle), who provided valuable insights on developing future-ready talent. One of the key moments during this session was the candid discussions that surfaced ideas for aligning students’ activities with the market needs.

The USIU-Africa team was tasked with developing student activities that enhance students’ professional development and prepare them for their careers. As part of this initiative, creating a consulting club was proposed. This club would bring together students interested in consulting and provide them with valuable skills and knowledge through various learning opportunities.

Company exhibitions

At this year’s career fair, over 34 hiring companies participated in the exhibitions. They provided insights into job and internship opportunities for both students and alumni. Many of these companies conducted on-campus interviews with the outstanding students. The exhibition village buzzed with activity with some companies even offering real-time simulations of their work environments, adding an exciting and fun element to the event.

For instance, Open Capital, a prominent consulting firm in Africa, actively recruited for their Analyst program during the exhibition. Similarly, MAS Holdings, Vivo Energy, Beiersdorf, and others were actively seeking interns. British American Tobacco (BAT), a leading employer in the Kenyan job market, shared details about their mentorship program, set to begin in August 2024 for third-year and final-year students.

Student entrepreneurs were also provided with a dedicated space to showcase their innovative products, which spanned various categories such as cosmetics, clothing, and diverse food offerings. This opportunity allowed them to enhance their brand visibility and connect with a larger audience of fellow students.

Masterclasses and School panel discussions

During this fair, attendees actively participated in 7 School-based panel discussions and 5 masterclasses. Each School was well-represented during the panel discussions. The primary goal was to provide students with an opportunity to engage hiring employers and learn from leading industry experts on evolving career paths and industry trends. After each session, students had the opportunity to network with these experts. The masterclasses covered a diverse range of topics, including technology, international relations, consulting, and animation among others.

One of the highlights was BCG’s consulting masterclass, led by Brenda Karimi, Henry Mogere, Jonathan Sentimeero, and Oscar Uwimana. They guided students through an immersive exploration of the consulting industry and the company’s work. Students also worked on a real case study under their guidance, gaining a clearer understanding of consulting. Attendees were encouraged to participate in university events and virtual work experiences, which would give them an edge in job applications. PACS offers virtual work simulations through Forage, inclusive of work simulations with BCG. If interested, enroll using this link - https://tinyurl.com/USIU-Virtual-Job-Simulations

Overall, the event was a resounding success, filled with engaging discussions and a vibrant atmosphere. This event also emphasized the crucial role of the PACS Department in supporting students’ career aspirations and nurturing their professional development. Patricia Gichuki and Lameck Tala from the Department encouraged students to continuously engage with the networks they have formed during the 2-week period.

The 2024 USIU-Africa Career Fair exemplified the university’s commitment to equipping students with essential skills and connections for their chosen careers. We owe its success to the support of staff, faculty, students, and alumni. A special appreciation to the remarkable team of 100 career fair volunteers, led by Career Peer Advisors (CPAs): Edna Gabriella, Christine Mwangi, Stella Ruthuku, Silas Ooko, Timothy Obote, and Steve Mungai. Their unwavering dedication, paired with the guidance of Winny Oloo, Catherine Mukami, and Veronicah Ngugi, ensured seamless support for all the attending employers.