University celebrates International Youth Day 2013 with panel discussion on youth employment
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 | From left: PIPSO CEO Meraia Volavola, USPSA Secretary-General Akmal Ali, Head of SOE Professor Saqib Jafarey, SPC Youth Advisor Meraia Carling, RCCCE Manager Hasmukh Lal and ILO specialist Satoshi Sasaki at the panel discussion hosted by USP on International Youth Day |
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In celebrating International Youth Day 2013 on Monday, 12 August, 2013, the USP School of Economics (SOE), joined other agencies in making the day a memorable one, by hosting a public lecture and panel discussion.
Titled ‘The role of tertiary institutions in addressing youth employment through entrepreneurship education – what are the opportunities, challenges and solutions?’, the seminar was a joint effort by the University, with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), and the Pacific Youth Council.
The seminar saw representatives from the University and the agencies deliver presentations on how they believe tertiary institutions can address the critical issue of youth employment through educating them on entrepreneurship.
ILO Specialist for decent work strategies, Mr Satoshi Sasaki, highlighted that providing opportunities for engaging in self-employment and becoming entrepreneurs is a viable option for youths, who are in their prime age to contribute new, creative and appealing ideas, products and services.
SOE Head, Professor Saqib Jafarey, mentioned the Asian case scenario, where the demand to be employed is so high, yet the prospects of securing a stable job are very slim, and this has led to an increase in youths seeking to enhance employment opportunities through job creation by engaging in self-employment.
The Regional Centre for Continuing and Community Education (RCCCE) was also represented at the panel, with Manager, Mr Hasmukh Lal, indicating how the Centre has provided individuals with professional trainings and qualifications, as well as equipping them with entrepreneurial skills.
USP Student Association Secretary-General, Mr Akmal Ali, also spoke on identifying challenges for young graduates, as they enter the workforce.
PIPSO Chief Executive Officer, Ms Meraia Volavola, gave examples of how unemployed youths, both with and without tertiary education, have successfully joined the workforce by collaborating with PIPSO and starting up their own businesses.
Youth Advisor at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Ms Meraia Carling also touched on initiatives that would help youths to discover and hone their entrepreneurial abilities.
Professor Biman Prasad, wrapped up the discussions by stating that undoubtedly, tertiary institutions have a highly significant role to play in assisting youths to secure employment in an environment where good work with good rewards is difficult to attain, but a collective effort by all institutions would reap better rewards, as members of the community, as well as government, inter-governmental and nongovernmental bodies equally share the responsibility towards ensuring stable employment.
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