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''CAREER READINESS PROGRAM

OF A

PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN PAKISTAN "

Raza Abbas-PakistanCountry Director Pakistan-APCDA

Pioneer of Professional Career Counseling & Guidance in Pakistan

APCDA INTL CONFERENCE

TAIPEI, TAIWAN MAY 18-22, 2016

TALKING POINTS

1. Data

2. Career Readiness

3. Need of Career Readiness in Developing Countries

4. Process

5. Institutionalized Program

6. Key Findings

7. Recommendations

8. Conclusion

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DATA

1. 63% Pakistani population are under the age of 25 years

2. 71% of population have a mobile phone

3. 96% Adult population with mobile phone

4. 48% Internet access

5. 59% Literacy Rate

Source: Microsoft CSR- Pakistan 3

Career Readiness

“Career readiness is the attainment and demonstration of

requisite competencies that broadly prepare

college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace”.

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Career Readiness Competencies

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Critical Thinking/

Problem Solving

Oral/Written Communications

Teamwork/Collaboration

Information Technology Application

Leadership

Professionalism/

Work Ethics

Career Management

Reference:http://www.naceweb.org/knowledge/career-readiness-competencies.aspx

NEED OF CAREER READINESS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

1. Lack of research, information and funding

2. Acute shortage of career practitioners to

address the need

3. Talented youth however clueless in career planning

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Qs. What is preventing you to promote career readiness in your

respective educational institution?

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PROCESS

Sample Size: 572

Participants Interviewed:

• HR professionals of leading National and MNC organizations-Diverse industries

• Teachers of public and private educational universities

• Educators of public and private educational universities

• Students of public and private universities

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� Private University where Student Affairs is part of policy� Qualitative Case study method was used� Multiple sources of data generation tools were used :

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Semi-structured interviews

Observations

Document analysis

Case Studies

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Challenges of Students

1. Lack of self-awareness and career education

2. Lack of

Emotional Intelligence

3. Inadequate industry awareness

4. Not aware of

career pathways

Institutionalized Program

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1. Individual and Group Career Life Counseling Sessions Coveringi. Career Counseling

ii. Mock Job Interviewsiii. Job Advice (National and Global)

iv. Resume Writingv. Corporate Grooming

vi. Starting a Business

Institutionalized Program

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2. CertificateCareer Readiness Series-Mandatory Workshops- In a Year i. Branding Students for Employability:(Resume and Job Interview, Networking)

ii. Work Ethics

iii. Public Speaking iv. Emotional Intelligencev. Interpersonal Communication

vi. Teamwork

Institutionalized Program

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2. “Career Readiness Series-Workshops”vii. Succeeding in a Globalized world

viii. LinkedIn/ Social Media Awareness ix. Hope Intervention- Engage work-force x. Leadership

xi. Idea Generation

xii. Corporate Etiquette

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3. Bridging the gap Industry /Academia Dialogues

4. Regular University Job

Fairs

Institutionalized Program

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5. On-going Industry Visits by Students/Faculty

6. Microsoft -Business Incubation Center-Youth Job Creation

Institutionalized Program

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7. Train the Trainer- “ 40 Hours- Teacher Training on

Career Life Counseling”

Implemented during winter/summer break

Link it into annual staff

professional development

8. Mandatory Elective Course in Entrepreneurship

Institutionalized Program

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11.Parental career guidance field orientation

for incoming freshman’s/

on-going as well

10. Alumni Database of

Career Success Stories

9. Mandatory Community

Services-

40 Hours in 4 Yrs

Institutionalized Program

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1. “I feel happy now I can save my career”

2. “I have learnt so much in one session that I have not been able to learn in the past 3 years”

3. “It helped me a lot to find what talent is inside me and now I have to use it to fulfill my aim”

4. “Best direction for my career”

Feedback of Career Counseling Sessions

Students' Remarks Students' Remarks

1. To strengthen the supply side of career counseling practices by facilitating institutionalized career counseling training for teachers.

2. To improve the demand side by supporting students at all levels schools, colleges and universities in making educated and informed career decisions.

3. Students at all levels: school, college and universities are staved of career readiness opportunities.

4. Career Readiness programs will help in selection of right career path and students will perform better in the subject of their own aptitude and interest.

5. Utilize mobile phones as mean of communication to disseminate career information to students.

KEY FINDINGS

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1. Greater Advocacy for career counseling and caree r guidance is not only required in Asia but the global world as well and the impact on socio economic status.

2. Teachers of Universities should be trained for:

Career Readiness Skills, Career Counseling, Career Education

3. Career Readiness should be part of policy at edu cational institutions for sustainability of career reform initiatives .

4. Career Readiness programs are need of the curren t economic times and respective educational system. It can be customized to diverse countries.

5. Bridging the gap between industry and academia i s vital. At the university we developed a Industry Advisory Committee which comprises of Seni or Human Resources Managers/CEO’s from diverse industries that meet with university m anagement once a month to share input of diverse industries and strengthen the curriculum as and when required.

RECOMMENDATIONS

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CONCLUSION

Win / Win situation

• Students

• Educators

• Parents

• Employers

• Society and Communities at large

• [Instilling Hope and Socio Economic Justice for a Safer Global World]

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Q&A/ Feedback

Raza Abbas

Global Career Strategist

Email

ra@pathwayglobal.org

Linkedin

http://pk.linkedin.com/in/razaabbas14