Graduates urged to contribute to nation building
06.07.2009
All graduates need to return home and work for the country, giving back to our people part of their hard work which made their training possible.
Minister for Employment and Human Resources Development Macsuzy Mondon made the statement last Friday during a ceremony to officially welcome home the graduates who have returned after completing their studies last year.
Present at the annual event which took place at the National Institute of Education at Mont Fleuri were Vice-President Joseph Belmont, Cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and high government officials.
The welcoming ceremony – the ninth to be organised since it was introduced in 2001 – is the first to be hosted by the National Human Resources Development Council (NHRDC) after it took over the responsibilities of the international training section from the Ministry of Education in January this year.
The council is now managing the tertiary studies of over 300 students enrolled on 190 courses in 85 universities, spread over 21 countries.
In the spirit of this year’s theme, Koste Seselwa, Mrs Mondon – also the chairperson of the governing board of the NHRDC – urged all graduates to respect their bonding agreement, which she said is the only way to localise high level posts being held by non-Seychellois.
Apart from congratulating the graduates for their accomplishment, she reminded them that graduation is only the first step in their career and that they should allow themselves to be guided and coached as they progress in the hierarchy and along their career path.
As new entrants to the world of work, the new graduates are naturally full of new ideas, dreams and ambitions to make a difference at their work places, she added.
She advised them to be humble and to share their knowledge with their colleagues which will help them to obtain experiences.
“Your academic qualifications have to be complemented by the right mindset and positive attitude,” she added.
Mrs Mondon also reminded the graduates that their attitude can positively or negatively impact their career prospects.
“You need the capacity to transfer your knowledge in the workplace thus demonstrating your skills, innovativeness, tolerance and resilience in the changing work environment,” she ended.
On behalf of her fellow graduates, Patsy Moustache – desk officer in the multilateral division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – read the vote of thanks.
It was also announced at Friday’s ceremony that the NHRDC will soon introduce two new programmes for graduates. Firstly, there will be a graduate skills and knowledge development programme – in partnership with the Seychelles Institute of Management – which will be done once a year.
It is designed to stimulate graduate’s leadership potential, strengthen generic skills required in employment, build awareness, increase decision-making and problem solving skills and also to develop knowledge in essential aspects of work. It will also prepare the new graduates to have a personal effectiveness and development plan so as to better manage their career.
The second activity is the setting up of a link on the NHRDC’s website to encourage graduates to network among themselves, with the council and others who may wish to use the site.