Employability Issues Addressed
Employability Issues Addressed
Participants of the debate club
Tebelo Theledi
The Vaal University of Technology’s Alumni relations, in collaboration with the VUT debate club, hosted a debate on 28 April on the topic: ‘’Can student employability be enhanced through the support structures within VUT?’’
The aim of this debate was to integrate and introduce students to campus opportunities which are currently available, to develop a network amongst students who have a common need and to try and create awareness to the departments involved of the concerns of the VUT students and the community at large.
Students debated around:
- Key activities to improve student employability;
- Identifying and addressing skill gaps;
- Building confidence and leadership ability;
- Student challenges in approaching industry; and
- Networking amongst formation so as to breach the unemployment gap.
Conclusions reached were that completing university studies can be a challenge at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Qualifications, skills and abilities solely acquired in a university setting are now viewed as insufficient by many organisations.
Collaboration between universities and industry is recommended to enhance the student experience ensuring that students are not only prepared by the university but are also exposed to opportunities.
The ideas and opinions that were shared at the debate will contribute to ongoing development and employability based initiatives to ensure that students are supported in becoming employable graduates of the future.
The VUT debate club is a structure within VUT that exposes educational potential.