Over the years, Polytechnic University (PolyU) has remained committed to preparing its students for future career success. In particular, the Student Affairs Office (SAO) and the Career Development Services (CDS) office have helped guide students through their job searches and equipped them with core competencies. Professor Walter Yuen, vice-president for academic development at PolyU, says: 'We want our students to be effective practitioners and lifelong learners. We want them to be masters of their own domain, with a good background in the areas they work in. We also want them to have good leadership and communications skills.' A series of developmental programmes, such as the community service learning project, the leadership training series, and personal development programmes have been put in place to nurture all-round competencies in students. Other initiatives are designed to help students boost their job prospects. These include recruitment talks that offer access to job opportunities and career information, one-to-one consultations on topics such as how to write a resume and the PolyU Job Board, a one-stop platform for students to get access to full-time, part-time and internship positions. All students have to go through a Work Integrated Education (WIE) requirement, supervised by their department's academic staff. This usually takes place during the summer holidays. 'By being in an actual working environment, they can apply what they are learning,' Yuen says. 'They can acquire the ability to communicate with people and interact with them and develop their personal and communication skills.' With the implementation of the four-year undergraduate curriculum next year, PolyU will launch initiatives to help students become 'practical dreamers' and responsible global citizens. In addition to a stronger language component and enhanced general education programme, students will be offered continuous exposure to opportunities to research and apply what they learn in school. These include a freshman seminar to give first-year students an overview of their profession, WIE (internship and workplace experiences), research and industrial mentorship activities in the second and third year and a capstone project in the final year. Professional leaders or representatives of industries will be invited to speak at the freshman seminar, giving students the opportunity to find out more about the sector, the requirements for entering the field and career prospects. 'PolyU has been nurturing students to meet the evolving market needs,' says Dorinda Fung, the university's director of student affairs. 'Statistics in recent years show that more than 80 per cent of our graduates have secured their first job offer within three months of graduation.' She says PolyU graduates have been sought after by employers in business services and real estate, social services, trading, wholesale and retail, education, engineering, manufacturing and hospitality, among others. PolyU Job Fair 2011 Date March 23-25 Venue EF, FJ and FG podiums Number of participating employers 96 Featured industries include accounting, government departments, engineering, building and construction, information technology, telecommunications and trading Career talk for registered students Essential Tips on Differentiating Yourself in a Highly Competitive Job Market Guest speaker Alison Chang, managing director, COREsearch Date March 23 Time 12.30-2pm
