The University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) on Thursday held its annual Career Fair to familiarize secondary school students with available opportunities with the aim of having those students qualify themselves in pursuance of those careers.
Students visiting one of the booths
The event was held on the parking lots of the Tain and Johns campuses under the theme ‘Expanding Your Horizons: Exploring the Possibilities’. It featured some 40 booths from various companies across Guyana.
“If you are interested in just being a ‘B’ student or a ‘C’ student and just making it through, don’t come to the University of Guyana; we don’t want students who are interested in mediocrity. If you want to be an excellent student, if you want to be a change agent and want to achieve the high bar, then do well in your primary school and secondary school, so when you come to the university, you would be adequately prepared for excellence,” Professor Griffith expressed.
He also warned students against plagiarism, and urged those present to use the opportunity presented by the university through the career day to explore their options and work towards achieving their goals.
The UGBC mainly focused on giving its audience — mainly comprised of secondary school students from across Region Six — an idea of what careers are available after completion of their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
The event began with Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana, Dr Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, giving brief background details and announcing that those who choose to attend the Berbice Campus after they would have completed their secondary education would benefit from a $50,000 tuition rebate.
The university partnered with several agencies, including ExxonMobil, El Dorado Offshore, the Department of Public Information, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, JSL International, Republic Bank, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Water Inc. among many other businesses and organizations.
Communications Analyst for ExxonMobil, Nicholas Yearwood, said the company has given out in excess of three hundred recruitment cards with detailed information, and is encouraging persons to submit CVs to be reviewed.
“So whenever opportunities arise, we will revisit them to become candidates for the opening.”
At the Tain Campus, the focus was on the operations carried out and the job opportunities offered in the different fields.
The John’s Campus, on the other hand, mainly focused on natural science, and the students were provided with information which could be useful for them in the chemistry and biology classes.
One of the well-received booths was the Guyana Water Inc’s, which showcased its new device that filters and purifies murky water from canals within a few seconds, making it safe for human consumption.
