Kelaniya University Career Guidance Unit:

Incubator for fledgling entrepreneurs

Ishara Jayawardane

The workplace of the 21st century is fast becoming one that demands a near superhuman effort to survive. A few decades ago, today’s world would be unimaginable. Who could have envisioned such a rat race, where you have to be educated for 20 something years just to survive in it. Choosing the right career that matches your skills has become exceedingly important.

The Career Guidance Unit of the University of Kelaniya was established to guide its undergraduates in their potential careers. “The degree is not really sufficient to secure a job. It’s only a passport to apply for a job.” said Kelaniya University, Career Guidance Unit Director Dr M P Deeyamulla. He explained that the corporate sector in particular, is looking for specific qualities, especially soft skills.

By the time university students graduate they have paper qualifications – the degree, but to be eligible for a job, they need soft skills. The main objective of a career guidance unit is to help them develop those soft skills during their undergraduate years.

Dr Deeyamulla explained that soft skills are a must when facing interviews. It is something that cannot be taught. But it can be developed through activities. With this in mind the Kelaniya University Career Guidance Unit has looked to four societies – Gavel Club, Rotaract Club, Wave House and AIESEC – addressing soft skills such as leadership, communication and time management skills

“Through the Gavel Club we are addressing communication skills. The club organizes inter-university best speaker contests, held every other year. Intra-university contests are held annually.” According to him, organizing such big projects helps the students to develop a whole new set of skills such as teamwork, communication and organization skills. The Rotaract club was started six months ago. The Career Guidance Unit has got the chartership and is trying to bridge the gap between the industry and university. The Rotary club consists of many others who work in the corporate sector.

Wave House is the newest addition to the Kelaniya University clubs, which focuses on inculcating entrepreneurship. The idea is –’Don’t depend on somebody . Become your own boss in five years”. Wave House organizes regular workshops, with their objective of developing entrepreneurial skills of students in mind.

Everything is done in English. Most of the workshops are conducted in English because the corporate sector is looking for English language skills. “We encourage students to communicate in English within the career guidance unit.”

Dr Deeyamulla explained that some students are a little queasy about coming to the unit because of the priority given to English language.

“At the end of the day we have to produce a good product to the market, so we are trying to produce what the market is asking for.” He said that students are afraid that they might not be able to communicate with others. The unit is trying to change that perception.

The unit brings skilled people from the corporate sector, experienced in entrepreneurship, who can explain to students what is really required.

Out of a selected group of students, the one who comes up with the best business plan wins a prize. The prize will be a bank loan to proceed with his or her plan.

The Kelaniya University Career Guidance Unit is trying to develop a dialogue between the corporate sector and the university.

Business people from the corporate sector will be brought in, workshops for the undergraduates will be conducted by them. Students have enough time to develop the qualities the corporate sector is looking for. The major annual event that started four year ago as a pilot project was the “Inspire the Next” Career Fair and Development Project. The fifth Career fair will be held this year, creating a platform for industries to collaborate with the universities.

Three months before the career fair, the career guidance unit call for applications from students, inquiring the field they are interested in. Meanwhile the unit liaises with the corporate sector to ascertain the vacancies available.

“From one end we have information from the corporate sector as to the vacancies available and from the other end we have applications from the students with their desired field.”

The unit matches the two and sends the applications to the industry. The companies go through the Resumes and shortlists are produced. Meanwhile students are prepared for the final day – the career fair.

The University aims to have a University ‘incubator’. Which will most probably be implemented this year or the next.

If a certain students has plans that a certain industry is interested in, then unit will provide necessary facilities for the student to continue research or business plan so the industry can sponsor it. This has been christened ‘the incubator’.