The Career Guidance Unit for Fresh Graduates annually organizes the “Touch the Peak” annual job fair with the aim of connecting graduates with suitable industries to support them in starting their careers.

According to the economic issues in the country, many civil engineering graduates face difficulties in losing their jobs due to lacking opportunities in the construction industry. According to these circumstances for the Civil engineering graduates and mechanical engineering graduates, the Career guidance unit has taken an immediate decision for holding a mini job fair for them apart from the main Job fair” Touch the Peak”. The Faculty of Engineering fresh graduates’ main “Touch the Peak” annual fair is coming soon after completing their final year exams next November 2022.

So, communicating with the industry and researching vacancies related to the above fields or any general management post for these graduates are also bringing at��this��special��fair for solving these immediate problems of graduate��students.
So, we are honored to introduce these reputed companies in the industry as our recruitment partners and, we express our gratitude to them for joining hands with us to solve this immediate problem.

of USJ for more information.

The post Happening Now – Special Job fair for Faculty of Engineering Graduates | Touch the Peak 2022 appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

Even though ambitions and dreams are questioned and spoken of during school days, many students begin the phase of their higher education with no specific idea as to what they aspire to be. Most of them go with the flow because that is the next apparent step to take in life. However, there comes a time when you must decide, and by then you should at least be aware of your strengths and skills, so that you could explore and identify a career that would best compliment your personality and drive.

“Shadows of Success” is a novel initiative of the Career Skills Development Society of the of 91��ý. This programme involves a series of workshops that would feature noteworthy personalities of the country – who have thrived as professionals in their respective fields, gaining much respect and admiration. This programme aims to provide a sense of direction to our students guiding them in making advantageous career choices with more conviction.

Job Shadowing is a recognized type of learning practiced globally. It opens a forum for successful professionals to share their journey and experience with the new blood in the market. It’s provides a wonderful opportunity for our youth to explore new avenues and be better informed in their decision making process. It reminds them that “There isn’t a way things should be. There’s just what happens, and what we do.”

First workshop of the “Shadows of Success” workshop series was conducted by��Mr. Jackson Anthony, actor, producer, director, lyrics writer, screen play writer, on��“හපන්කම් ගොන්කම් සහ පුරසාරම්”��on 06th��December at Munasinghe Hall of the University.

The post “Shadows of Success”, 1st Workshop on “හපන්කම් ගොන්කම් සහ පුරසාරම්” by Mr. Jackson Anthony appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

The post “සාර්ථකත්වයේ සෙවණැලි” – “හපන්කම් ගොන්කම් සහ පුරසාරම්” ජැක්සන් ඇන්තනී සමඟ appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

Acknowledging the beauty of these years of youthful adventures and experiences, the Career Skills Development Society guided by the of the University has taken the initiative of producing the song “Daasin Hadana”, collaborating with the technical assistance of , to celebrate youthful love and appreciate the unforgettable experiences it offers.

Kudos to the team on releasing their first music video and hopefully the beginning of many more to come!

Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElJVng-_VZ4

The post දෑසින් හඬනා – Daasin Handana Music video by Career Guidance and Japura Media appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

The Annual General Meeting of the Career Skills Development Society was held on 4th of April 2016.The executive board for the years 2016/17 was appointed on this day. The members of the executive board are as follows.

President: Hiranya Perera (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences)
Vice Presidents : Supun Thiwanka (Faculty of Applied Sciences), Dinidu Herath (Faculty of Applied Sciences)
Secretary: Chathurika Perera (Faculty of Management and Commerce)
Vice Secretary : Vishaka Pathiraja (Faculty of Management and Commerce)
Co-Treasures: Achala Gayashan (Faculty of Management and Commerce), Sajith Jayakodi (Faculty of Management and Commerce)
Sahaja Shakthi : (Main Coordinator) – Janaka Maduranga (Faculty of Management and Commerce)
Faculty Coordinators : – Daupadee Gamage (Faculty of Management and Commerce), Chathuri Thilakasiri (Faculty of Applied Sciences), Maduni Premarathne (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences)
Sahaja Shakthi: (Orchestra Coordinator): Ranmalee De Silva (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences)
Sahaja Shakthi (Event Coordinator) :Danushka Piyumali (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences)

Career Advisor – Sameera Jayewardene
Senior Treasurer – Career Advisor Chathurangani Thennakoon

Japura Career Fair & Workshop Series organized by the CSDS offers a many job opportunities and internships to the undergraduates as well as to the graduates who are interest in the cooperate world. Through the workshop series undergraduates are given a thorough knowledge on leadership, personnel grooming, cv writing etc.
Moreover, the CSR projects such as ‘Donate Happiness’ are specially organized to enhance unity among the students.

Projects and programs conducted by the CSDS of USJP are initiated with the intention of developing and improving soft skills of the students as a value in addition to their university degree.

For an example, the program ‘Evening for Leisurely Talk‘ is conducted to develop English Speaking abilities of the undergraduates. A number of workshops are also designed mainly to improve soft skills such as leadership skills, communication skills, team work, problem solving abilities and to build up the confidence

The specialty of the CSDS is, not only the undergraduates are benefitted from this society, as the society expands beyond the university premises through the project ‘Arunella’ offering a valuable opportunity to the school children to enhance their soft skills.

Sahaja Shakthi Inborn talent club is the subcommittee which is implemented by the CSDS to develop the inborn talents of undergraduates. The main purpose of this is to enhance the aesthetic skills such as music, Singing, dancing, painting among the undergraduates to perform their capabilities in the University. ’Sahaja Shalthi Talent Show’ is one of the large scale annual event organized by the CSDS.

Many larger scale projects will be organized by the CSDS of the 91��ý along with the Career Guidance Unit for the sheer purpose of moulding undergraduates into productive youths with positive knowledge, skills and attitudes to serve the country.

The post Career Skills Development Society to launch range of activities appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

The post Pooja at Japura to start Fems your Limitless foundation appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

The post J’pura Employability Awards 2015 appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

The post Evening English Leisure Talks by Career Guidance Unit appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

This Annual Awarding ceremony is specially organized to admire and identifies the best skillful undergraduates/Recently passed out graduates who have actively participated to enhance their soft skills. This event will encourage the students to develop their soft skills and make a capable person to work with the co-operate sector.

Suggested Annual Awards

Considering all the activities conducted by the Career Skills Development Society has decided to present these awards to highlight four categories.

Best Team Player
Through this award we hope to encourage the members to involve in team work activities and develop their teamwork skills, communication skills, decision making skills, organizing skills and etc.

Best Presenter/Communicator
Communication skill is one of the most important soft skills which our graduates should develop. We hope to encourage our students do public speaking and presentations.

Best Team Leader
Becoming a leader is not an easy task. Best Team leader award will help our members to practice how to take leadership and become a fascinating leader.

Best Creative Person
Award for Best Creative person will be given to a person who has talents in decorations, photography, creative writing or graphic designing. This award will encourage our members to identify their potential skills.

Best Innovator
This award will be given to someone who has done new innovations, successful researchers or someone who has got new ideas which can change the world. This award will uplift their career.

Selection criteria
Recently passed out Graduates and under graduates can apply for above awards. Applicants should bring Cvs and their portfolio to the interview panel. Interview panel will be consisted with sponsors and the academic staff of Career Guidance Unit.

Online Application Available:

For details contact

Career Guidance Unit
University of Sri Jayewardenpura
Nugegoda
0112801088

The post Jayewardenepura University Employability Awards 2015 appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.

As implied in the above, skills specifications for entry-level employment and perceived skills gaps have been the subject of study, research and debate for many decades particularly in the developed world. It was not surprising therefore that the ILO sponsored 1971 study of the unemployment problem in 91��ý by Dudley Seers offered the explanation of a “skills mismatch” between supply and demand.

Skills and Talents

Skills are generally described as the abilities one has gained by practice or by knowledge. While talent refers to one’s “natural” abilities, skills are said to be one’s learned abilities. Two types are generally distinguished.

Technical Skills and Soft Skills

Job-related Skills�� (or technical skills) are the ones used in a particular job or cluster of jobs. Transferable Skills (or employability skills/ soft�� skills/generic skills/ ��enterprise skills, capabilities, personal competencies) are what one would use in a wide variety of situations.

Employability skills

Many researchers subdivide the employability skills into

• basic skills {e g. reading, basic arithmetic),
• higher-order thinking skills (e.g. problem solving, decision making) and
• other affective skills and traits (e.g. dependability, positive attitude.

We should certainly see the link here on the one hand to “Self Management Skills” and on the other to what is now known as “Emotional Intelligence”.

It is of course to be expected that other interpretations and classifications would exist. The UK Graduateness project refers for example to 3 kinds of achievement .

• field-specific�� – possession of a body of knowledge and other qualities particular to the field{s) studied .
• shared – possession of more general attributes common to graduates from families of degrees
• generic – possession of yet more general attributes which might be common to all – or most – graduates

International research indicates that employers do not deny that young graduates generally have at least a reasonable level technical knowledge and skill. It is the non-technical abilities (transferable/employability skills) that are most often the cause of employer dissatisfaction.

National. Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education in U.K chaired by Ron Dearing ��recommend that institutions of higher education begin immediately to develop, for each programme they offer a “programme specification” which identifies potential stopping-off points and gives the intended outcomes of the programme in terms of:

• knowledge and understanding that a student will be expected to have upon completion; .
• key skills: communication, numeracy, the use of information technology and learning how to learn;
• cognitive skills, such as an understanding of methodologies or ability in critical analysis;
• subject specific skills, such as laboratory skills.

What 91��ýn employers Expect from Graduates?

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. 91��ý ��conducted a survey in 1999 on what private sector employers would like to see as attributes, other than direct technical competencies, in university graduates at entry level.

Here is the list:

• Ability to communicate effectively, including in English
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to work with different people and in different teams, ability to adapt to changing work situations
• Ability to lead a team and achieve results in a short space of time
• Ability to prioritise/ organise time productively
• lnitiatjve, willingness to take risks
• An open, positive and practical mindset and a willingness to learn from a wide cross-section of people
• Computer literacy and basic numerate skills
• General knowledge {including world affairs, wide interests)
• Dress sense, personal grooming, business etiquette

Key expectations of 91��ýn employers

Mr Lal de Mel, well-known leader in the Business world and now Chairman of the Tharuna Aruna training programme for graduates, presents the key expectations of 91��ýn employers as follows.

People and Team Leadership

• Ability to build Effective Teams
• Demonstrate a balance between the individual and the team – is a good team player
• Encourage an open exchange of ideas and different points of view
• Ability to withstand pressure
• Handle pressure smoothly and effectively
• Be willing to speak out on issues, even when your view is unpopular
• Respond in a non-defensive manner when others disagree with you
• Take Ownership
• Demonstrate high levels of integrity in your daily contacts with others
• Confront conflict situations in an honest and direct manner
• Accept responsibility for the consequences of your decisions and actions

��Functional Excellence

• Keep up to date with leading edge developments in your field or function
• Demonstrate a high level of skill in your functional area

Drive for Results

• Demonstrate extraordinary levels of energy & effort
• Establish high performance goals and standards

��Innovation

• Try out new things rather than find fault with subordinates for mistakes
• Have an idea of what works in the market place

Personality

• Self confidence
• Good grooming
• Good communication skills

Social Responsibility

• Demonstrate a spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship
• Demonstrate respect for ethics

Employability of Graduates of 91��ýn Universities

According to Prof. R. G. Ariyawansa of Department of Estate Management and Valuation found that there are
many jobs for engineering/science and management graduates in current job market and fewer opportunities are available for humanities and social sciences.

Training/experience is a highly demanded factor in the job market especially, in the��private sector. Proficiency of English language is a decisive factor. Further, there is a��high demand for additional competencies such as IT skills, leadership qualities, analytical��ability, team work and interpersonal relations along with a degree.

Download Prof Ariyawansa’s paper

Compiled by Hiran Amarsekera based on Career Guidance Resource Book by Mr Charles Fernando (2002)

The post Employability skills – What business expect from Graduates? appeared first on USJ - 91��ý.