Principal Secretary, State Department for Post Training & Skills Development, Mr. Alfred Cheruiyot presides over the Launch of the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Office of Career Services.       

We are pleased as a University to implement the Ministry’s vision for the establishment of offices of career services at Universities and Tertiary Institutions. DeKUT Office of Career Services, which was officially launched on Friday, February 4th, 2022 by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Post Training & Skills Development, Mr. Alfred Cheruiyot, seeks to offer career guidance to students and Alumni.

The Office of Career Services looks to cater to several stakeholders in the Universities and tertiary institutions sectors namely students, faculty, administration, employers/ staff, and alumni. To achieve its mandate the office of career services will offer services such as; academic advising, career services, counseling services, graduate tracker services, the linkage between industries and students, intra-institutional exchanges, high school recruitment, establishing an alumni network, among others.

Some of the  major goals that the office of career services plans to attain following its operationalization are:

(i) To support students realize their full academic potential and have good results at the end of their studies.

(ii) To produce graduates who are prepared for the world of work and whose character reflects DeKUT core values and philosophy.

(iii) To enhance the rate of paid employment and self-employment achieved within the first 12 months of graduation of DeKUT graduates.

(iv) To build the career guidance capacity of the staff and the University.

 (v) To enhance DeKUT’s graduate life-long learning and life-long employment.

The office of career services will also provide students with the development of soft skills such as interpersonal skills, communication skills, listening skills, and time management skills which are crucial to career development and growth.“The job market is a very competitive space and only the best-skilled candidates make it. These skills are not only professional but also soft skills such as communication which includes listening, writing, and speaking; problem-solving; teamwork; professionalism; leadership skills; being detail-oriented among others. Such skills, while critical, are not taught in the classroom. They are acquired through mentorship, coaching, and experience.” stated the Principal Secretary, State Department for Post Training & Skills Development, Mr. Alfred Cheruiyot, during the launch. He also urged the youth to take advantage of the available opportunities in the digital space such as the Ajira Digital Programme which is a partnership between the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology, Innovation that seeks to address unemployment by bridging the gap between skills demanded by offering training and mentorship to the youth.  He concluded by applauding the University for establishing the Office of Career Services and congratulating the office for the milestones it has made so far.