By Julian Ndombi

The Placement and Career Services Department, in collaboration with various Schools, organized a successful recruitment drive featuring several leading organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the National Employment Authority (NEA), the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), Genesis, Ajira Digital, and Box Raft.

The session kicked-off with a presentation from the IMF team, led by Pierre Passing, Deputy Director IT based in Washington DC, and two other representatives, Kevin Tuitoek (Economist and USIU-Africa alumni) and Regina Oyekola (Special Assistant to Director). Reiterating the purpose of their visit, Pierre mentioned that they are working on inspiring students from Africa to work with IMF. USIU-Africa was among the selected universities for various job and internship opportunities due to its strong academic standing and diverse pool of talent that the IMF needs. He said that the organization has numerous opportunities in hospitality, information technology, legal business, research, economist and finance related disciplines. He highlighted that the university's diverse student body is a key advantage, as it includes individuals proficient in multiple languages, aligning with the IMF's hiring requirements, which include staff from both Francophone and Anglophone African countries.

They also emphasized that potential candidates must have impressive CVS, good communication skills, speak confidently and display sufficient knowledge in their subject area. The students were taken through the recruitment process and provided with a list of available vacancies to apply for. The event was attended by 230 students mainly from the Chandaria School of Business and School of Science and Technology.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Student Life, Dr. Victor Boiyo said that USIU-Africa has a unique opportunity to shape students into well-rounded individuals that are prepared to tackle complex global challenges. He added the university provides the necessary academic foundation, infrastructure, mentorship and leadership opportunities needed for strong educational experience.

Representatives from NITA and NEA discussed their overview and mandates to students, procedures for registering for internship placements, career counseling and guidance services, insights into job market trends, skill requirements and attracted a total of 105 sign-ups.

Boxraft, a subsidiary of the media company, Kenyans.co.ke held discussions with students from School of Communication, Cinematic and Creative Arts with the aim of recruiting students in various disciplines such as journalists, writers, videographers and photographers, social media specialists, and public relations. This attracted 10 applicants and shortlisting is underway.

The final session was led by Ajira Digital, who trained students on the importance of acquiring digital skills through their platform. They are currently offering free training sessions, which began on February 7, with 65 students already enrolled.