Career Center Part Of New Algeria Contract
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Publication Date: December 16, 2006
WDI has partnered with the Institute of National Commerce (INC) in Algeria to train future economic and business leaders to manage reform and change. Part of the project will include developing a career center at INC that will link the school with local businesses and create internship opportunities for business school students.
The project is funded by the Higher Education for Development (HED), part of USAID’s Bureau of Economic Growth. The partnership, called Educating Managers, Promoting Linkages and Opportunity Integration – or EMPLOI - will likely start in January.
The first of three goals for the project is to improve the curriculum of INC so the next generation of Algerian managers can increase their employment prospects, build their leadership capabilities and develop their practical, analytical skills. This will be achieved by:
- Conducting a survey of Algerian businesses to determine the qualifications they are seeking in business graduates and assess their perception of the quality of INC graduates.
- Preparing and delivering a one-week train-the-trainer management seminar by UM faculty to INC faculty.
- Making recommendations on curriculum improvement solicited from firms and provided to INC faculty.
The second goal of EMPLOI is to provide assistance to business students so they understand their career opportunities after graduation. The partnership will do this by:
- Having the WDI career center specialist work with INC staff in the development of a career center.
- Having the center offer seminars in a variety of job-hunting related topics, provide assistance to firms in writing vacancy announcements, create an alumni network, establish an advisor board, and sponsor a job fair.
- Providing guidance to entering license-level students on choosing a concentration.
- Working with firms to develop vacancy announcements at the center and establishing internships positions.
The final goal of the project is to develop linkages for collaboration between the INC and the Algerian private sector. This will be done by:
- Hosting an EMPLOI conference, including setting the agenda, recruiting speakers, preparing presentations and inviting the appropriate audience.
- Organizing an alumni event and a job fair which works to strengthen the business network that supports the center.
- Establishing mentoring opportunities at the center through SEVE, an association of female managers.
