Caddabra Bernard - optimistic about landing a good job after graduation. - Contributed

FINAL YEAR Northern Caribbean University (NCU) student, Caddabra Bernard, is not bothered by the fact that the current job market is shrinking. Nor is she entirely worried that she might not be able to land a job in her field of choice - secondary education.

"If I don't end up teaching come September, I can still put food on my table because I have been doing so many other things on campus," Bernard told a Gleaner Editors' Forum held last week at NCU's Hilltop Conference Centre in Mandeville.

The forum examined how educational, training and funding institutions prepared students or programme participants to access employment. Between late 2008 and early 2009, more than 12,000 Jamaicans were cut from the workforce.

resident adviser

Carolyn Smith, director of career and employment development at NCU .

"I worked as a resident adviser for three and a half years on the freshman hall for girls," Bernard disclosed. "I have worked in the cafeteria, I have worked in offices, and I have been able to work with just about anybody - from the president of the university to my fellow students," she added.

Bernard further stated that if she could not find a a job in the classroom, she could also work in the media industry, drawing on her experience as a programme host on the campus radio.

Carolyn Smith, director of career and employment development at the NCU, said the school prided itself on graduating well-rounded individuals for Jamaica's job market.

She said most of the institution's academic programmes included a practical component to prepare the students for life.

create own opportunities

Lesline Thomas, head of the hospitality and tourism depart-ment at Knox Community College.

Other institutions, such as Knox Community College in Man-chester, have recognised the need to prepare students to create their own opportunities in a rapidly changing business world.

Lesline Thomas, head of the hospitality and tourism department at Knox Community College, said within most of its programmes, students were taught enterprising skills and given the opportunity to practise managing their own companies.

"The students actually learn how to be an entrepreneur and practise that throughout the term by forming and running their own companies and determining the success of their own companies, with the guidance of lecturers on site," Thomas said.

"At the end of the day, they are, invariably, coming out with hands-on experience in operating their own businesses and creating their own opportunities."

Thomas further said a number of students had graduated from Knox in recent years and had gone on to start their own small businesses.

She added that in many instances, students would leave the school with a degree in hospitality management, but eventually started business ventures outside of the field.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com