Mauritius premier skill development agency, the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), organised a Skills Interface Platform for the financial services sector to assess HR requirements for the sector, yesterday, June 12, 2014, in Ebène.
In 2013, over 13 000 people were employed in the financial services sector in Mauritius and its GDP contribution was 10.1%, which is expected to grow by 5.3 % in 2014.
Recent surveys have demonstrated that skills shortages and skills mismatch are some of the main problems that Mauritius is facing. Consequently, to ensure that the financial sector can recruit the manpower that it needs, it is crucial to first identify the training needs of the sector.
The objective of the workshop was to come up with training programmes to address specific skills mismatch in the sector and propose measures to close the information gap between industry on one hand, and education and training institutions on the other.
The three-session workshop started with a presentation on the current skills situation in the financial services sector by employers and other industry operators.
In the second session, training providers presented an overview of the existing training provisions for the financial sector.
The final session consisted of a panel discussion with interaction between employers, industry operators and, education and training providers.
Representatives from the Insurers’ Association, Mauritius Bankers Association, Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants, Association of Trust & Management Companies, University of Technology Mauritius, University of Mauritius, Charles Telfair Institute, London College of Accountancy, and Adecco Mauritius, amongst others, attended the sessions.
The HRDC will come up with an updated list of scarcity areas for the financial sector, as well as new measures to promote collaboration between training institutions, universities and employers to align training programmes with industry requirements.
Besides, the University of Mauritius (UoM) held a three-day training to enhance the employability of graduates by bridging the gap between employers and graduates expectations to facilitate the successful integration of graduates into professional life.
Some 600 graduates attended the training, held from 11 to 13 June, at the UoM campus in Réduit.
Private sector experts as well as UoM staff imparted their knowledge and experiences to help graduates respond to the expectations of the job market.
Participants also developed employability skills such as communication, presentation, leadership, team working, problem solving and critical thinking, among others.
Other topics that were discussed included professional CV writing, business writing skills, discipline and ethics at work as well as self-marketing.
At the opening ceremony, Tertiary Education Minister Rajeshwar Jeetah urged participants not to rest on their laurels but to use the skills acquired during their studies to position themselves on the job market.
“In your final year, you have learnt how to solve problems systematically and think critically in a structured manner. Use the same skills to find out everything you can about the job and the company before sending in an application,” he said.
Jeetah advised graduate job seekers not to feel that any job is beneath them, but rather use work experience as a learning opportunity to upgrade their skills and knowledge.
The Minister also advised graduates to be humble in job interviews and not to cross the fine line between self-confidence and arrogance.
For her part, UoM’s Vice-Chancellor Romeela Mohee listed the initiatives to prepare students for the world of work such as placement and internships in local companies as well as consultative committees with key industry figures.
Mohee added that the UoM intends to conduct a graduate tracer study to collect information on the employability of the institution’s alumni and the links between their course of study and their career.
Image (University of Mauritius): Tertiary Education Minister Rajeshwar Jeetah urged participants not to rest on their laurels but to use the skills acquired during their studies to position themselves on the job market.
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