Our empowerment mission in Universities is seemingly an issue of concern, judging by the number of times, it keeps propping up. In the last communication, there was mention of the same. This week, we coincidentally encountered with a young man, in our neighborhood, who still recalls a presentation that took place in 2013. The gentleman re-visited this presentation made to them in June, as they were about to graduate in August the same year, upon invitation by their professor. The latter had taught me Total Quality Management about two decades ago, as part of my specialization in Management Science.
Interestingly, the gentleman still recalls the ideas shared through the talk titled “Quality Begins With You.” The same eventually formed Chapter 6 of the KICD approved “Career Dynamics in the 21st Century.” Unfortunately for him and other classmates too, the lessons came late, but still, will be re-visited the next time he is back to school. This brings to mind 3 fully fledged seminars conducted in 2 leading public universities in 2016 and 2017.
In one seminar, conducted during Career Day in the business school of one of the universities, the observations made were quite depressing. As explained in the last pages of our publication titled “Living Beyond Survival: No More Tiptoeing in Life,” 80% of the 3rd and 4th year students had no ideas of their likely eventual careers. According to them, this was to be determined by the jobs acquired in the market place, after school. Imagine this from students in a university that admits top-cream performers!!!
Ever since, I have not been keen in conducting empowerment seminars in universities.Why so? Disempowerment is already entrenched and very little can be done to correct the same that late.
In 2019, one public university wanted to slot some 45 minutes of our session during their Career Day, instead of the 2 hours that had been proposed. In our view, very little was to be achieved. This led us to declining acceptance of the engagement.
Further, in early 2020, a leading private university became interested in our empowerment seminars, after the lecturer in charge of students’ welfare read a copy of Career Dynamics in the 21st Century. Apparently, the same had been introduced to her by another lecturer, who we interacted with in the past, while conducting a trainer of trainers seminar. The lecturer in charge of students’ welfare requested for a proposal, which was promptly dispatched.
Surprisingly, the next request was where we were shortly conducting a secondary school seminar. Why so? We wondered.
Lecturer: I simply want to know why your seminars are quite popular in secondary schools. I have in this university encountered students who have benefitted from your seminars through their previous schools.
Me: Our next school is in Machakos County (and named the specific school).
Lecturer: I am interested in being a participant in the same.
Me: Wow! No problem. You can attend the seminar, subject to being allowed by the school administration.
Lecturer: That will be a bit complicated. I would like to accompany you as a colleague.
Me: (After imagining that the lecturer needed to pick some ideas from us, there was an instant answer). In that case, we would suggest that you wait until our invitation to your institution. Alternatively, it is possible to contact the various beneficiaries of our seminars and find out their experience, isn’t it?
Lecturer: Ok then. We will get back to you.
Soon after Coronavirus pandemic became the normal, we have ever since never interacted with any university. Nevertheless, our holistic seminars have continued empowering our future leaders, during their formative years in different secondary schools, spread across 12 Counties so far. We believe those from your institution could also be ready for that unique and widely tested empowerment strategy, aren’t they?
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach
Seasoned Speaker/Consultant/Trainer on Strategy, Performance, Change Management and Leadership.
Officially UNSUNG Architect of CBC
Author of 1. KICD approved Career Dynamics in the 21st Century, 2. Living Beyond Survival:No More Tiptoeing in Life
- The 21st Century Student:Are You Creating The Future Today? Also, Retired 5 Year Monthly Strategy Columnist (2013 – 2018) for The SME Today Magazine Phone 254772516210
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