From University to the Workplace: INES Ruhengeri and INNOVIC Equip Students with Employability Skills

INES Ruhengeri, in partnership with INNOVIC, a center at the university that supports students in developing and acquiring employability skills, organized a public career talk under the theme “From University to the Workplace: Building Employability Skills and Successful Careers in a Changing Labour Market.”

The session brought together INES Ruhengeri students, entrepreneurs, and professionals for discussions aimed at helping students understand the skills, attitudes, and competencies needed to successfully transition from university to the workplace.

Opening the career talk, the Vice Chancellor of INES Ruhengeri emphasized that academic qualifications need to be complemented by practical and transferable skills to respond to the demands of today's changing labour market.

“A university degree alone is no longer sufficient. Graduates need technical knowledge as well as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, digital skills, adaptability, professionalism, and a commitment to continuous learning,” the Vice Chancellor remarked.

Fr. Dr. Jean Bosco Baribeshya, Vice Chancellor of INES Ruhengeri, encouraged students to develop skills beyond academic performance.

The career talk featured different entrepreneurs and professionals who shared practical experiences and insights on career development, employability, entrepreneurship, and the expectations of the labour market.

Through presentations and interactive discussions, students explored the importance of developing skills beyond their academic qualifications. The discussions highlighted competencies such as effective communication, teamwork, problem-solving, digital literacy, adaptability, professionalism, and continuous learning.

Students actively interacted with the presenters, asking questions and sharing their perspectives to gain a better understanding of how they can prepare themselves for professional life. The engagement provided students with an opportunity to learn from real-world experiences and reflect on the competencies they need to develop before entering the labour market.

As a center dedicated to supporting students in developing employability skills, INNOVIC plays an important role in helping students bridge the gap between academic learning and workplace expectations. The partnership with INES Ruhengeri reinforces the university's commitment to ensuring that students are equipped with both academic knowledge and practical competencies.

Students from different departments actively participated in the career talk, engaging with presenters through questions, discussions, and interactive exchanges.

The career talk reaffirmed that preparing for the labour market goes beyond earning a university degree. Graduates need the right combination of knowledge, practical skills, professional values, adaptability, experience, and a commitment to lifelong learning to navigate an evolving world of work.

Through initiatives such as this career talk and the work of INNOVIC, INES Ruhengeri continues to strengthen the connection between education, employability, entrepreneurship, and the needs of the labour market.