The Federal University of Education, Pankshin (FUEP), has strengthened efforts to prepare students for the world of work, with its Career Services Centre organising a specialised training programme for management, academic and non-academic senior staff on conscious instruction and administration for students’ career development.
The training, themed “Conscious Instructions and Administration for Students’ Career Development,” focused on equipping University personnel with the knowledge and strategies required to integrate career guidance into teaching, administration and student support.
The programme underscored the need for Universities to move beyond academic qualifications by preparing students with practical competencies, career awareness and entrepreneurial skills needed to navigate an increasingly competitive and technology-driven labour market.
Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor of FUEP, Prof. Noel Nen’man Ndalbeh Wannang, described the initiative as a significant step towards preparing students for life beyond the acquisition of academic certificates.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Judith Dawulung, stressed that accurate and timely career guidance was essential to helping students develop the skills, attitudes and competencies required for employment, entrepreneurship and professional advancement.
He noted that effective university education must equip students not only with theoretical knowledge but also with the capacity to make informed career decisions and respond to emerging opportunities in the world of work.
Prof. Wannang commended the Career Services Centre for its proactive approach to student development and appreciated the resource persons for sharing their expertise. He urged participants to translate the knowledge gained into practical improvements that would advance students’ career prospects and contribute to the overall development of the University.
The Director of the Career Services Centre, Dr. Joshua Nehemiah Ndit, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Benjamin Lidimma Golkwi, said the training was necessary because students needed practical life skills and appropriate guidance to navigate the opportunities and challenges awaiting them after graduation.
He emphasised the importance of making career development a deliberate component of the University experience, requiring the involvement of management, lecturers and administrative personnel.
Dr. Ndit expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for his continued support for the Centre’s initiatives and acknowledged the contributions of the resource persons, Dr. (Mrs.) Ada Arinze of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Prof. John Gyang Chaka, Director of Academic Planning at FUEP.
In her presentation, Dr. Arinze examined intentional teaching in the 21st-century context, using practical examples to demonstrate the importance of aligning teaching methods with evolving labour-market demands.
She highlighted the need for educators to remain informed about changes in the employment landscape, encourage appropriate specialisation and promote regular curriculum reviews to ensure that students acquire relevant and marketable skills.
Her presentation drew attention to the relationship between classroom instruction and real-world demands, stressing the importance of preparing students to apply their knowledge effectively in professional and entrepreneurial settings.
Similarly, Prof. Chaka explored the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in conscious instruction and career administration, noting that the increasing complexity of modern career pathways requires students to make well-informed decisions about their professional futures.
He advocated a blended, technology-enhanced approach to career development, highlighting the importance of using ICT to strengthen instruction and improve access to career-related information and opportunities.
The presentations reinforced the need for higher education institutions to adopt responsive teaching methods and career-support systems that reflect technological advancement, changing industry requirements and emerging employment opportunities.
In a vote of thanks, the Registrar of FUEP, Mr. Longtong Yadok, commended the Career Services Centre for organising the training, describing the sessions as valuable in equipping University personnel with the knowledge to support students beyond the classroom.
He thanked the resource persons for their contributions and participants for their active engagement, noting that the programme was beneficial to both students and the University.
The initiative reflects FUEP’s continuing efforts to strengthen the connection between academic learning and career preparation, with emphasis on ensuring that students are better positioned to pursue employment, entrepreneurship and professional development after graduation.
