Internship - youths in Africa need it

Internship is a job offer in a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, making it similar to an apprenticeship.
Interns are usually university students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. Student internships provide opportunities for students to gain experience in their field, determine if they have an interest in a particular career, create a network of contacts, or gain school credit. Internships provide the employers with cheap or free labor for (typically) low-level tasks, and also the prospect of interns returning to the company after completing their education and requiring little or no training.
Internships may be part-time or full-time; typically they are part-time during the university year and full-time in the summer, and they typically last 6-12 weeks, but can be shorter or longer
Types of internships
An intern type means doing internship in an organization or in specific subject of study. Internships exist in various industries and settings. Here are two primary types of internships that exist.
Work experience internship: Most often this will be in the second or third year of the school period. The placement can be from 2 months to sometimes even one full school year. During this period the student is supposed to use the things he/she has learned in school and put it in practice. This way the student gets work experience in their field of study. The gained experience will be helpful to finish up the last year of the study.
Research internship (graduation) or dissertation internship: This is mostly done by students that are in their last year. With this kind of internship a student does research for a particular company. The company can have something that they feel like they need to improve, or the student can choose a topic within the company themselves. The results of the research study will be put in a report and often will have to be presented.
International student internships
Many students do internships in a different country to get international experience and learn an extra language.
Internships are validated work experienced opportunity as part of a degree program.
University staffs give students access to vacancies and students apply direct to employers. Some universities hold fairs and exhibitions to encourage students to consider the option and to enable students to meet potential employers. In the modern labor market graduates with work experience in the form of sandwich placements are not only deemed more desirable to employers but also research has demonstrated they attain higher level degree classifications than those graduates without such experience.
In these countries they have split the types of internship in unpaid or paid. The unpaid internship are mostly the ones that are chosen by students who are either still in school and doing an internship as part of the requirements of school or who have just left school. The purpose of these internships are to get understanding about how work is conducted in the English-speaking world and to improve one's English. Another plus is to learn about work ethic and to experience cultural diversity. The paid internship is mostly for people that want to come to these countries to improve their English. The job for them is not something that they are specialized in, but see it as something that will give them enough money to support their living in these countries.
Over the years, A Ray of Hope, UNESCO has been involved in the internship processes in several universities across Africa. It was noted years back that a typical African youth does not take the opportunity that comes with internship so a process was formed to make internship a reality for the African youth.
There have been kind and encouraging comments as youth found out that Internship is a sure way to develop and create opportunities for themselves. Direction and planning are critical for career management. This is particularly important for developing your career in any field of study.
It's important to have the right attitude towards knowledge and experience. Career progress requires a deep understanding of the importance of work experience. Though you can acquire knowledge and skills from training and other learning resources, in every field especially the technology field, work experience is key for relevant career growth. Getting work experience isn't exactly easy street for most newcomers. But it always helps to have a total picture that shows an understanding of the need and opportunities.
There are some suggestions while on your part you have to be creative in getting benefit.
You will need to understand the benefits and essence of internship as well as the nature of internships. How can you make the most out of your internship experience? And which areas should you consider for such opportunities?
• Understand Internship
Naturally, when you analyze the nature of work a person does, it is possible to divide up the course of study into two major areas of business support and academics/research. Business support refers professionals involved in the use of that course of study in all aspects of life – commercial, education, social and government while academics/research refers to individuals involved in the academic and research side of the field of study. Irrespective of the environment, distinction is expected in the nature of work carried out by the individual. For example an Information Technology professional providing operations, support and programming services in a university for student records is providing business support. The other person (working in a university or the lab of a software firm) that teaches and investigates vulnerabilities and secure programming is carrying out academics/research work.
Though many academic institutions provide qualifications and a solid grasp of the fundamentals in academics and research, business support is a major minus. Many students graduating with certifications or degrees are unprepared to deal with the needs of the environment. Qualifications aren't enough. What all sectors of society need are individuals who are ready to solve problems and create opportunities using their experience from day one. The labour market and society wants thinking contributors not just qualifications.

Educational institutions attempt to address this deficiency by building Industrial Training programs known as SIWES or SWEP and internships into their degree programs. Most academic programs relating to technology require students to perform internship at specific stages of their academic programs. Such academic programs incorporate work experience as an integral part of a student's core curriculum.
Graduates and certified individuals who wish to develop hands-on work experience can also take the initiative to secure internships. During such periods of internship, students get exposed to working life and experience, where they gain some hands-on skills.
• Benefits of Internship
One of the most important and obvious goals of an internship is the acquisition of actual real world experience. Industrial attachment and Internship across the world gives you a full and realistic view of workplace environment. This is not a storybook, fantasyland, feel-good activity. What is the workplace culture? What are the expectations? It means going through the highs and lows. You need to ask, is work experience for me? Is it an environment in which I can thrive?
Internships are known for giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real world environments. At the same time, they will also develop skills which will help them perform better at their jobs.
Internships are a great way to "try-out" career possibilities. Participating lifts the veil by allowing the student to learn more about the specific industry, field, technology, product or company. With a real feel of the nature of work you have more realistic judgment values that aren't coloured by fantasy.
The importance of having a better picture of what is really going on can't be overstressed. Lack of direction and unrealistic expectations, and not lack of intelligence, are some of the major reasons why many careers don't take off. You can and love to calculate and excel in theoretical work but how much do you know about other things a worker must perform - like nature of work? Is the area of specialization you have in mind the still your choice? Your internship experience should aid you in analyzing your options and your situation.
But it's not just to gain a sense of the work environment. Internship makes it possible to link the academic environment with workplace and professional realities in terms of opportunities and challenges. Internship is an opportunity to learn firsthand about valued requirements that can't be taught or experienced in the classroom.
One problem commonly cited by employers is that many graduates do not have the practical skills necessary to excel in the job market. They also feel that the professionalism of students is less than it should be. Even though there are a large number of theories on how to encourage employees and increase profits, it is apparent that enhanced levels of education are not enough to prepare students for a real world environment. Being able to improve these weaknesses will make graduates much more effective in their careers.
Furthermore your educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments that expose you to the work of the employer (the internship provider). By participating in an internship, you gain hands-on experience and enhance your knowledge in a career field. The opportunity to develop professional competence is a major plus - learning and contributing in the workplace. You should invest in internship to develop new skills and gain professional experience in the IT profession. Competence is particularly important in today's world, as industry requires competence not just qualifications. Having quality work experience increases your marketability. Qualifications and certifications may open the door but they can't keep the door open. It's beyond passing exams. Qualifications will not provide an umbrella for incompetence.
Seeking an internship is a brilliant way to acquire job search and interviewing skills. You use the internship search to learn how to market yourself for opportunity. You gain experience in job-seeking skills such as resume and cover letter preparation and interviewing. The self-evaluation you go through when developing your resume and other job search helps you better define what you want in your future. Usually students with two to three internship experiences during formal education are often the most productive in securing full time employment quickly upon graduation. These are the important guidelines that the Youth One-Stop Centre will be giving you.
Working in industry is about working with people. "No man is an island" - John Donne. You might be a strong academic performer with the best results or grade in your class but please experience is not about one-woman-or-one-man-riot-squads". It's important to know how to learn and work with people to get results. People aren't machines or zombies.
A study was conducted which included about 20 universities in Africa and a total of 100 students were included in this study. Before they could start their internship, the students were required to take a career development program. In this program the students learned how to conduct an interview and how to enhance their careers. The results of the study demonstrated that using a variety of different teaching methods is effective in giving graduates the traits which are desired by employers. The students gained skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and computer skills.
The vast majority of students in this study had high to above average scores. The students also demonstrated enhanced abilities in the areas of oral communication and leadership skills. The goals of the study were largely successful. The role of the Youth One=Stop Center is to get Universities and educational programs can encourage their students to take internships, it is likely that many of their graduates would have the skills necessary to succeed. Setting up the right program for employees can be a challenging process. The students who participated in internships performed much better than students who graduated from the program without going into internships.

Internship is therefore useful for learning and improving soft skills such as communication, problem solving, analytical, decision-making, leadership, presentation, teamwork, networking and interpersonal skills (empathy, sensitivity, and friendship). Internships will also allow students to learn about time management, discipline, and effective communication skills. In the business world, critical thinking skills are very important. Graduates must be able to make quick decisions which are based on logic. In addition to this, their work ethic will increase, and they will be confident in their abilities.
Internship helps students build professional networks. Your interaction with working professionals during your internship can lead to career opportunities. Deepen and expand your network. It is easier to succeed when you build your own personal network of individuals that you can rely on for advice, job leads, technical assistance and other helpful support.
To cap this up, there is the need to know that when you build network with other students from over the world at your internship place; this is one network that you will need and hold on to forever.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
Temmylade Ayo Aladeokin is UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace. He has been involved in youth empowerment programmes for 5years. He is the initiator of Youth One-Stop Centres in Africa with the support of A Ray of Hope, UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace – an organization that is involved in educating African youths.
Temmylade is a graduate of the Africa Leadership Forum and holds a lot of certifications from Institutions in East and West Africa.
Currently works as the advisor, liaison and promotions person for A Ray of Hope, UNESCO.

Barrack's Character Should Inspire Africa to Produce Own Obamas

Kigali — The world's top darling, Barack Obama, enters the White House today, as America's most unpopular president in as many decades, George W. Bush, leaves a problematic Oval Office to the first African-American president.

Today's inaugural ceremony of Obama's four-year presidency has expectedly assumed an international dimension. Thus, it comes as no surprise that even our own Rwanda Television - which has on several occasions failed to broadcast many crucial events - is not about to miss out this time round, alerting viewers as early as Sunday that it will transmit live Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony.

Obama, son of a Kenyan father, has excited politicians, musicians, students, the old and the young alike, throughout the last two years of his political carrier, emerging as a beacon of hope for this increasingly troubled world.

Understandably, it was a dream come true for billions across the globe when ordinary American voters gave the world's favourite, a presidential mandate on November 4, 2008.

Having watched Africans as ecstatic as never before over a foreign presidency election outcome, several questions have come to my mind: What will happen after all this excitement has dwindled and Obama busy confronting most pressing challenges for which Americans gave him their votes?

Will Africans sit back and wait for the former Illinois senator to come and solve their perpetual problems? And will the young generation stop at only buying attires with Obama look-alikes instead of seeking to walk in Barrack's footsteps?

If there has ever been any incoming president with more reason to worry than to celebrate, it's Obama. While Obama's success is the envy of many, very few can enthusiastically want to take on the kind of challenges he is inheriting from Bush-a sinking economy, two tricky wars, the ever bleeding Middle East and the global warming time-bomb. But even in the face of the political and economic uncertainty that lies ahead of him, Obama has been as resilient as ever, repeatedly telling Americans that no problem - however intimidating it would seem-was insurmountable.

Speaking at a pre-inauguration celebration on Sunday, the 44th American president stated resolutely: "Anything is possible in America … Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure - that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time."

In light of the challenges never seen in decades that the world is currently facing, Obama's statement demonstrates never-say-die character; one that African leaders and Africans in general need if they are to turn around their beleaguered continent.

Obama comes from the minorities. His father may not be a descendant of African slaves in the US, but his wife is, as are most African Americans. But against that bitter backdrop, Obama has chosen to promote the 'we are one' ideology, which has the potential to break the walls that exist between the various American racial groups.

Forget about John McCain's 'Country First' campaign slogan: Barrack Obama's transition decisions have been a true reflection of his long-held belief that America and the world cannot genuinely thrive on polarization.

He has demonstrated that by including Republicans in his Cabinet, which remarkably, has whites, blacks, Asian Americans and Hispanics in it.

In Africa we have had a handful of leaders whose political actions are bipartisan in nature. Rwanda is one of those countries currently enjoying the fruits of all-inclusive politics introduced in a nation that had suffered the brunt of bad leadership for decades. Well I don’t exactly know what to write about Nigeria on this.

While only two Republicans occupy Obama's Democrat Cabinet, Rwandans put in place legal provisions that prevent the ruling party from occupying more than half of Cabinet posts. The rational is simple: despite your political affiliations, national interests must always prevail over individuals' or party interests. Nigeria has a political system that allows all party delegates to be represent either at the House of Representatives or the Senate.

In Rwanda, not only does the 2003 Constitution bar the ruling party from taking over 50 percent cabinet seats, it also stipulates that the Speaker shall not come from the same political organization as the Head of State.

This is the all-inclusive politics that President Paul Kagame's government has been promoting over the years. And that is, by and large, a shift from the pre-genocide politics which excluded a section of the society not only in Government positions, but also in schools and other many societal aspects.

Nonetheless, Obama's cabinet picks suggest the incoming US president is determined to move away from the 'winner-takes-it-all' philosophy that hitherto characterizes many governments - former US administrations inclusive.

Secondly, Obama's decision to think out of the box by refusing to go most of his predecessors' way demonstrates that in politics or otherwise, there is no such a thing as 'one-size-fits-all'.

But there is need to remain even focused as we pass on this new thinking to the next generation.

And to Africa in general, our continent need not only to celebrate US' Obama's success, but also to start seeing our own Obamas rising.

James Munyaneza (in the New Times: a Daily News Paper in Rwanda) on January 20, 2009.