In an effort to bridge the gap which exists between academia and industry, the Design and Technology (DTI) has organized a two-day Career Fair to help its learners familiarize themselves with career opportunities available on the job market and how to secure them.

The two-day event brought together approximately 29 top-tier companies from various industries, including agriculture, information technology, manufacturing, oil and gas etc.

The event provided learners with the opportunity to network with potential employers to gain insights into internship and employment opportunities directly from the representatives of the participating companies.

Learners took part in speed interviews and networking sessions to test their technical and professional skills as part of their transitioning into the world of work.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Constance Swaniker, Founder and CEO of DTI, remarked, “At DTI, we believe that it is critical to prepare and equip our learners with the necessary employable skills so that they can succeed in the workplace.”

According to the Institute of Statistics, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), only 10% of graduates find jobs after their first year of completing their tertiary education. This raises questions over the impact of the various interventions instituted by the government and institutions to address the situation.

“Ensuring that learners are employed or start their own businesses after completing their studies remains DTI’s top priority. We are excited to use an event like this to connect our learners with recruiters to facilitate internship and employment opportunities,” she further stated.

Interacting with the learners, Akua Bema Asante, Assistant Registrar at the University of Professional Studies, who was the special guest spoke on the relevance of soft skills in the world of work, and advised them to continuously reinvent themselves to add value to their professional careers. She noted that this will go a long way to guarantee that they become successful professionals in their chosen fields.

“You must constantly pursue new and innovative ways to refreshen your knowledge and skills in order to keep up with the rapidly changing world of work. The world is constantly changing, and you must adapt in order to meet the changing demands of consumers and industry,” he added.

The fair forms part of DTI’s effort to provide learners with employment resources and opportunities in order to ensure their employability after completing their programme. 

Since inception, the institute has proven its resolve to change the narrative for excellent TVET education in Africa and is committed to providing the best education attainable anywhere in the world.

The Industry and Workplace Coordinator at DTI, Mr. Mubarik Ahmed, reiterated the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. He stated that “while the fair provides an opportunity for the corporate Ghana to engage with DTI, it also helps the Institute gain an understanding of the opportunities and challenges that exist within the corporate workplace.”

“The fair has not only provided a platform for companies to engage with students on various career development levels, but has also been an opportunity for them to get to know the learners beyond their CV and academic qualifications,” he concluded.

Companies that participated in the fair expressed their excitement for the event and commended DTI for providing a forum for learners to learn about career opportunities and the requirements for professional success.

Learners also displayed some of prototype products developed and other projects as part of the fair.