Exit Orientation and Graduate Recruitment Programme ‘resounding success’

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Final year students enjoyed a fun-filled and informative day at the College of Health Sciences’ (CHS) Exit Orientation and Graduate Recruitment Programme on the Westville campus.

The Director for CHS Professional Services, Professor Fanie Botha, congratulated the students for nearing the end of their educational journey in the College and lauded CHS Student Support Services (SSS) for organising an informative event addressing appropriate issues for the soon-to-be graduates.

Botha encouraged the students to consider pursuing postgraduate studies through the College which continues to provide comprehensive support to ensure student success through various portfolios.

College Manager for SSS, Dr Saloschini Pillay, said the day’s programme served as an important first step for a graduating student’s transition into the world of work. ‘It provides a valuable introduction to the expectations of the world of work, offering useful strategies to maximise transition as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with employers.

‘The Exit Orientation provides a multi-perspective overview for graduates, addressing workplace challenges and highlights the soft skills and core competencies required by employers. The competitive job market requires graduates to not only acquire a formal academic qualification but to be holistically developed with marketable employment skills,’ Pillay said.

Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Chief Operations Officer, Advocate Tshepo Boikanyo, told the gathering it was a criminal offence in South Africa for healthcare professionals to practise without HPCSA registration. His talk was entitled: “Value of HPCSA On-Going Registration, CPD and Ethics.”

The HPCSA is statutory body which oversees the framework for education and training of health professionals; professional practice frameworks and disciplinary processes in cases of deviation from established standards of education and professional practice.

Boikanyo said its motto: ‘To Protect the Public and Guide the Professions’, promoted professional conduct and ethics from the country’s health practitioners.

CHS Student Counsellor, Dr Kamilla Rawatlal, spoke about the transition from college to the world of work while the Dean and Head of School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Professor Anesh Singh, shared insights on the importance of acquiring  personal finance management skills from an early stage.

‘How you choose to dress each morning reflects how you feel about your job – that you take your position seriously, that you pay attention to detail and know what you expect to encounter that day,’ advised Student Counsellor, Mrs Wulganithi Thaver, who delivered a stimulating presentation with guidelines on professional attire, image and grooming.

The day’s proceedings included a much-anticipated Wardrobe Building and Fashion Show by Truworths. The fashion retailer entertained students, providing tips of how young graduates can ‘win’ with good self-image in the workplace whilst maintaining professional dress and remaining fashionable at the same time.

Pharmacy students, Mr Perez Ngoveni and Ms Kylie Winterburn, said they benefited from the programme and recommend it for all final-year students.

Exhibitors at the Graduate Recruitment stands, who included Dis-Chem Pharmacy, Life Entabeni Hospital, Smith & Nephew, and Universum, informed students about the various career opportunities available to them upon graduation. 

Lunga Memela