Employability key to success
These days, a career is just as important as an education for many young people. With the fall semester right around the corner, many students are in the process of making some of their first big life decisions. Choosing a university can have a profound impact on a student’s future career. A wrong choice could leave one unemployed and saddled with tens of thousands of dollars of debt. With no obvious avenue into their chosen career, students can often feel trapped and frustrated. While learning to think is important, a head full of concepts shouldn’t be the only thing you take with you when you walk away with your degree. Recognizing this demand for employment- related education, Kwantlen Polytechnic University has developed a range of innovative programs, which blend skill development, theoretical education and real- world experience for impressive employability results. Of Kwantlen students surveyed last year, 87 per cent admitted to having locked down work within four months of graduating. Of those finding work in the first four months, 44 per cent nailed down a job in less than a month. Some were even recruited before graduation. Part of this success comes from the real world applicability of Kwantlen’s courses and a rigorous commitment to teaching analytical and strategic thinking along with the practical day- today skills needed to execute projects. Added to this mix is an engaged coop program designed to both help students sell themselves on paper and to connect them directly with employers looking to hire in the business world. It’s all part and parcel of a realworld education, which connects the industry leaders with grads who understand their needs and have the skills to get the job done.