Constance Elizabeth Swaniker
The Design & Technology Institute (DTI) organized an eight-week summer internship training programme for 282 students from nine tertiary institutions in Ghana.
The internship provided the beneficiaries with industry experience relevant to their transition into the workforce.
The training forms part of a three-year partnership with the Mastercard Foundation under the Young Africa Works initiative to provide work-related opportunities to young people, particularly women and disadvantaged youth.
Students went on industrial field trips to learn about industry operations first-hand, interacted with seasoned industry leaders, and attempted to identify industry problems.
They also worked in groups to develop creative solutions to the identified problems, all while honing their interpersonal and teamwork skills.
Founder and CEO of DTI, Constance Elizabeth, Swaniker, urged the students to develop a growth mindset and the right attitude to succeed in the workplace.
“Take charge of your own personal and professional development, because DTI has provided you with opportunities to learn and grow; it is up to you to seize these opportunities to grow,” she added.
DTI’s Industry & Workplace Coordinator, Mubarik Ahmed, congratulated the students for completing the eight weeks programme and emphasized the importance for the students to have the right attitude and mindset to enter the workforce.
“It is worth noting that many employers consider candidates’ attitude and mindset before hiring them. As an institution that champions internship training opportunities for Universities and Technical institutions to accelerate growth and development, we have provided you with the right tools and resources, both soft and hard skills, to set you apart in the job market,” Mr Mubarik Ahmed said.
He thanked the over 30 industry partners who made the programme a success.
Selina Amoah, a Civil Engineering student at KNUST said the soft skills training was instrumental for her to interact seamlessly with people “the soft skills training was educational, insightful, and eye-opening because I was exposed to precision quality and strategy development. During my hard skills training at Africa Concrete Products, it helped me to assist customers in selecting the right product for their project. I’ve learned how to hone my entrepreneurial abilities, as well as the proper attitude for field work and a keen sense of precision.”
The interns were awarded certificates of completion for their participation in the training programme during a delightful closing ceremony.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri