Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has received 100 interns from the Public Service Commission (PSC), on attachment who will be assigned to various departments within the university.
The interns have been posted to JKUAT as part of a Kenyan government strategy to provide graduates with career chances in a variety of government organizations and parastatals.
The fundamental goal of this program is to provide the participants with not only essential technical and professional skills, but also with hands-on experience in the public sector.
Through this initiative the interns will receive practical experience, allowing for skill refinement that can greatly improve their employment chances, develop networking possibilities, and perhaps inspire entrepreneurial ventures in the future.
As part of preparing the interns for their new duties and roles in the university, the university organized a comprehensive orientation event, on Friday 21, 2024.
The activity involved providing interns with information about the university and deploying the 40 interns in various departments across the institution.
During his welcoming remarks to the interns, Prof. Bernard Ikua, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance,
encouraged them to make the most of their learning opportunities throughout the one-year program. He emphasized the importance of these gained abilities, implying that they could potentially improve their future job prospects at the university.
“This internship program is extremely important since it bridges the skills gap, making you more competitive in the job market. Take advantage of this opportunity to gain information and fill the public service arena with your new ideas; who knows, it may pave the road for your career growth,” said Prof. Ikua
The Human Resource Manager, Mr. Simon Peter Otieno, outlined the multifaceted roles and responsibilities that the interns would undertake. These responsibilities, he noted, spanned a diverse spectrum of tasks and projects urging them to give their best in their designated departments.
“In close coordination with your supervisors, your tasks will be matched with the mutually agreed upon objectives specified within your deployment areas,” stated Mr. Otieno, adding a cautionary note on adhering to ethical codes of conduct.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Dr. Joan Mutua, provided the interns with insights on customer care and service. She underlined the importance of welcoming demeanor, stating that customer service goes beyond assisting consumers or users of products and services but also includes giving them a great experience and assuring their contentment.
“Customer feedback and views are extremely important in providing attentive customer care. By doing this, we develop a good institutional image that resonates with our patrons and the greater community,” advised Dr. Mutua.
The PSC’s admirable endeavor to provide paid internships to jobless Kenyan graduates has tremendous potential. The emphasis on recent grads provides an egalitarian platform for young professionals to launch their careers, get vital experience, and build professional networks.
