5.0 YOUR CAREER PATH

Transcription

1 5.0 YOUR CAREER PATH 5.1 Job Prospects for Secondary School Leavers There are various avenues for students in multiple fields for upward mobility and continuous learning both on the job and outside the world of work. Each individual can carve his own career path depending on his aptitudes, choice and opportunities available to him. Normally after completing the School Certificate or GCE O Level many young persons enter the job market looking for a clerical or secretarial position. Although the minimum qualifications for such jobs may be SC in job advertisements, it has been observed that HSC, GCE A Level holders stand better chances to get such jobs in view of the large number of HSC holders. It is therefore essential for SC holders to continue to study, otherwise they will have to contend with low end jobs. For a secretarial job, students leaving secondary schools need to follow specialised courses in secretarial duties, office skills and information technology. There is a high demand for computer literate personnel. 5.2 Vocational Education Many students either fail SC or drop out of the secondary stream with less than five years schooling. For these young persons there are many avenues for vocational courses and training in Automative Mechanics, Electronics, Machine Maintenance, Printing, Precision Engineering, and many others. The Industrial and Vocational Training Board (IVTB) has various training centres spread throughout the island and which offer vocational courses. 5-01

2 A model career path is given below: INDUSTRIAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING BOARD HSC IVTB Training Centres Courses at Higher National Diploma Level SC IVTB Training Centres Courses in Hotel Trades National Trade Certificate at NTC 3 & NTC 2 Levels Form III IVTB Training Centres Technical courses National Trade Certificate at NTC 3 Level The regional centres are as follows: Bel Air Training Centre Le Chou Training Centre La Tour Koenig Training Centre Mahebourg Training Centre Prof. B.S. Uphadyaya Training Centre Professional Drivers Training Centre Sir Kher Jagatsingh Training Centre Sir Rampersad Neerunjun Training Complex (East Wing) Sir Rampersad Neerunjun Training Complex (West Wing) Surinam Training Centre The courses offered by these institutions lead to a Certificate in National Trade Certificate (NTC) Level Three and Two. 5-02

3 5.3 Technical Education Besides IVTB Centres, there are also private training institutions such as College Technique St Gabriel which offers vocational training in various fields. Technical Courses in fields such as Engineering and Electrical istallations are also offered by institutions such as Lycée Polytechnique de Flacq and Institut Technologie Supérieur de Rose Hill. It is also possible to study for technical courses and pursue studies up to degree level. The duration of these courses are of three years Opportunities for employees to continue learning All employees who join the labour market after SC or HSC have the opportunity to continue learning. Many students follow courses leading to professional qualifications such as Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants and Chartered Institute of Marketing in the fields of Accountancy and Marketing respectively. Others follow courses in various other fields such as Human Resource Management or Management. The advantage that this option provides is that the persons have practical experience in the world of work. The Swami Dayanand Institute of Management of Pamplemousses, under the aegis of the Technical School Management Trust Fund offers Diploma Courses in the field of Management. These courses are normally open to HSC holders. The MEF and MIM have been very instrumental in shaping the career prospects of many young persons for the past decades. Courses such as Advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management, Diploma in Human Resource Management, Advanced Certificate in Business Management, Diploma in Business Management, MSc and MBA have been organised annually and have attracted participants from a range of organisations cutting across the private and public sectors. The last three courses are being organised through the distance learning mode in collaboration with the Surrey European Management School, University of Surrey, United Kingdom. 5-03

4 Other private Training Institutions also offer various courses in different fields leading to certificate, diploma and/or first degree. A model of the career path available to Mauritian students is given in Figure 5. It is not exhaustive but gives an idea of the opportunity that exists for upward mobility. 5.5 Prerequisites for Higher Studies If you wish to pursue higher studies, you need to study up to HSC or GCE A level. The subjects taken at that level should be related to the field of studies you may want to follow at the tertiary level. This will depend on your ambition, interests and aptitudes as well as the occupation or job you wish to aspire. You should also take into consideration your ability, inclination and the particular field in which you are well versed. Some are more conversant with figures, some have a more critical mindset for analysis purposes while others are more inclined towards languages or science. It is well advised to get to know more about yourself, your personality, your strengths and weaknesses as well as your ambition since these will be the major determinants in shaping your career and the necessary educational background for fulfilment. 5.6 Contacts Before proceeding to further studies, you may find it useful to contact institutions that may provide you with information and guide you in the choice of your field of study. You will ultimately make the final decision but discussions with a professional in the field will allow you to have a better perspective regarding the field of studies, jobs prospects and salary levels among others. 5-04

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6 Some of the institutions that may provide additional information on certain fields are listed below: FIELDS INSTITUTIONS Accounting ACCA Office, 4 th Floor, Fon Sing Building, Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis. Architecture Mauritian Association of Architects 4 th Floor, Discovery House, St Jean Road Quatre-Bornes. Banking Mauritius Bankers Association 3 rd Floor, Plantation House, Port Louis. The Institute of Bankers c/o the MCB, Sir William Newton Street, Port Louis. Career Guidance Careers Guidance Service Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, 1 st Floor, IVTB House, Pont Fer Phoenix. National Youth Council 9 th Floor NPF Building, Rose-Hill. Engineering Council of Professional Engineers c/o Registrar, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping, Government Centre, Port Louis. Information Technology Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Level 9, Air Mauritius Centre, President John Kennedy Street, Port Louis. National Computer Board, 7 th Floor, Stratton Court Building, La Poudrière Street, Port Louis. Insurance Insurers Association 2 nd Floor, Plantation House, Port-Louis. Legal Studies Bar Council 6th Floor, PCL Building, Port-Louis. Library Studies Association of Professional Librarians c/o National Library, 1 st Floor, Fon Shing Building, Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis. Management Mauritian Institute of Management, 1 st Floor, Cerne House, Chaussée, Port Louis. Association of Human Resource Professionals c/o BAT Plc (Mtius) Ltd, Nicolay Road, Port Louis. Medicine Medical and Dental Council One Way Floreal Road, Mangalkhan, Floreal. Pharmacy Board Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, 5 th Floor, Emmanuel Anquetil Building, Cnr Sir S. Ramgoolam & J. Koenig Streets, Port Louis. Nursing Council of Mauritius Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, 5 th Floor, Emmanuel Anquetil Building, Cnr Sir S. Ramgoolam & J. Koenig Streets, Port Louis. 5-06

7 5.7 From Job Seeker to Job Creator Not all young people are job seekers. Some of them may have the ambition of setting up their own enterprise; they may already have a notion of business especially if their parents have an enterprise or they may have an inclination for business. Opportunities are not lacking in an economy which has been expanding at about an average of 6 per cent a year for over 30 years coupled with the existence of an appropriate package of incentives and institutional support for small enterprises. An overall business friendly environment is a seedbed for entrepreneurship. In this context, there is no doubt that small enterprises have a high potential for creating gainful employment. They represent the bulk of enterprises worldwide. They contribute almost 25 per cent of GDP and are highly resilient to economic crisis. They are a source of social stability as well. In Mauritius small enterprises have emerged as a major pillar of economic growth and source of employment generation especially since the mid eighties. The country has a pool of entrepreneurs and a strong spirit of entrepreneurship that has been developed over time. Business opportunities for small scale entrepreneurs exist not only in traditional industries but also in fields like Information Technology, Marketing, Advertising, Accountancy, Textile, Construction, Tourism, Agriculture and other services. A high degree of linkage between small, medium and large enterprises is emerging and there is a need for specialised services. In fact, small businesses exist in virtually all sectors of the economy. 5-07

8 5.7.1 Analysing Employment from a size perspective TABLE 6: EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY AND SIZE OF ESTABLISHMENT (IN THOUSANDS) INDUSTRIAL GROUP LARGE SMALL TOTAL LARGE SMALL TOTAL Agricultural & Fishing of which sugar cane 38.1 (33.3) 33.9 (7.0) 72.0 (40.3) 24.5 (17.4) 22.8 (4.2) 47.3 (21.6) Mining & Quarrying Manufacturing of which Sugar EPZ (7.4) (85.9) 22.7 (-) (3.0) (7.4) (88.9) (3.1) (84.4) 28.4 (0.0) (1.3) (3.1) (85.7) Electricity & Water Construction Wholesale & Retail trade, Restaurants and Hotels Transport, Storage & Communications Financing, Insurance, Real Estate & Business Services Community, Social & Personal Services Activities not elsewhere specified Total During the period 1991 to 2000, the share of employment creation of small enterprises has increased from 37.1 per cent in 1991 to 40.6 per cent in In some sectors like Electricity and Water, small enterprises are non existent. In the Agricultural and Fishing sector excluding the sugar sector as well as in Transport, Storage and Communications, small enterprises contribute more or less the same extent to employment as large firms. However, for Construction and Wholesale and Retail Trade, Restaurants and Hotels, small firms employ more workers than their larger counterparts. Large firms are more representative in terms of employment creation in Manufacturing, Financing, Insurance, Real Estate and Business Services and in Community, Social and Personal Services (where employment is twice that of the smaller enterprise category). When Government is excluded, we however find many small enterprises in Community, Social and Personal Services. 5-08

9 Following the trend, it appears that small firms are emerging to represent at least fifty per cent of total employment in Mauritius The Challenge of Starting up a Business To start a business of your own is risky. It involves a lot of hard work, devotion of long hours, availability of funds and sacrifice. You have to invest your efforts, time and money to reap a return in future. However, your chances of making it a success depends on your own qualities, education, experience and skills. You should like the business field you intend to enter so that you are motivated, enthusiastic and confident about your business venture. You should also understand the various facets of a business and conduct a proper feasibility study. This is the most crucial point that will determine the survival or failure of any business opportunity. Besides a fair analysis of your personal entrepreneurial qualities, you should be able to prepare a feasibility study of a project that will show whether the venture is profitable or not. You should also have a general knowledge of Management, Marketing, Finance, Production, Personnel Management and many others Institutional Support Mauritius has an extensive pool of entrepreneurs and the spirit of entrepreneurship can further be developed with a view to enhancing the contribution of SMEs to the economy (1) Registration and Incentives An SME can be registered with the Small and Medium Industries Development Organisation (SMIDO) and obtain the SMIDO certificate. Registered SMEs are eligible to Duty exemption on production equipment, materials and accessories used in the whole manufacturing process. Corporate tax rate of 15 per cent for the life of the company. 5-09

10 5.7.3(2) Assistance to SMEs Many institutions from both the public and private sectors provide services to SMEs, a list of which is given below: Organisation Nature of Assistance Development Bank of Mauritius Financial Small Scale Financial Schemes Employment Opportunities Sponsorship, Training and Counselling Investment Fund Export Processing Zone Training Guidance and Counselling Development Authority Provision of Information Small Scale Financial Schemes Mauritius Commercial Bank Financial Industrial Entrepreneurial Scheme Micro Industrial Entrepreneurial Loan Mauritius Employers Federation Training, Counselling and Provision of Information Small and Medium Industries Training, Counselling and Guidance Development Organisation Provision of Information Export Assistance Scheme Feasibility Study Grant Scheme 5.8 The Mauritius Employers Federation and ILO Programmes Improve Your Business (IYB) The Mauritius Employers Federation has been involved in small enterprise development since the early eighties when it introduced the Improve Your Business (IYB) programme with the support of the ILO. The Federation has acquired wide experience not only in conducting and managing this programme but also in widening the scope of support to small enterprises. In fact, the MEF has developed a comprehensive 100-hour management development programme on Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Culture Entrepreneurship Development and Small Business Creation Environment Besides the IYB there are two additional components, namely Entrepreneurship Development and Small Business Creation Environment

11 The Entrepreneurship Development component enables potential entrepreneurs to develop a number of entrepreneurial qualities. Entrepreneurial Qualities Opportunity Seeking and Initiative Information Seeking Persistence Risk taking Demand for Efficiency and Quality Commitment to Work Goal setting Systematic Planning and Monitoring Independence and Self Confidence The component on Small Business Creation is meant to create a better understanding of the need for an enabling environment and of the local context. It includes inter alia: Creating the Right Environment for Enterprises Formalities and Procedures for Business Start-ups Role of Different Institutions Preparing a Feasibility Study Legislation for Small Enterprises The objectives of this programme are to:! improve the management of enterprises! inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship! change the attitudes of the unemployed from being job seekers to job creators! help solve problems of social exclusion For further information, kindly refer to the following publications from the MEF:!" The Improve Your Business Kit!" Managing Your Time!" Creating Your Own Enterprise in Mauritius 5-011

12 5.9 Small and Medium Industries Development Organisation (SMIDO) The SMIDO is a parastatal body established in 1993 with the main objective of assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on growth and development issues, training, Information Technology awareness workshops, management guides, research and innovation and technology counselling services. The SMIDO has also put forward the Small Enterprise Project Award aimed at promoting entrepreneurship in Mauritius. This Award enables young people to experience real life situations in conceiving, preparing a project report and to discover their entrepreneurial talents, that is, to breed future entrepreneurs around the island. Its objectives are to: sensitise the youth of the role and contribution of SMEs. promote entrepreneurship. enhance the process of enterprise creation. encourage young people to be more independent. make the young aware of the advantages of self-employment. create a pool of projects Shell LiveWIRE Programme LiveWIRE is a programme created and launched in 1982 by Shell in the UK. As from 1987, it spread to countries outside UK and is now present in some 11 countries including Mauritius. Shell LiveWIRE International aims to encourage the spirit of enterprise in young people around the world through local enterprise development organisations and partnerships with government institutions like SMIDO, universities etc. LiveWIRE provides practical support to young people through these institutions by developing the skills needed to plan, launch and manage new business enterprises. In April 2000, the LiveWIRE Youth Enterprise Mauritius has been implemented by a joint venture involving Shell International, Shell Mauritius Ltd, University of Mauritius and the Small and Medium Industries Development Organisation (SMIDO). Live Wire is a social investment programme that promotes enterprise development and provides practical advice 5-012

13 and ongoing support services to young people seeking to start their own business. The main activities of the LiveWIRE Youth Enterprise Mauritius include the following: Implementation of a LiveWIRE Enquiry Service for counselling purposes The setting up of an Enquiry Desk at the SMIDO to provide: #"information about how to start a business. #"assistance for business plan and first market research. #"help in locating additional sources of advice. Some valuable LiveWIRE materials include the guides Writing your first business plan and Market Research for the first time. Organisation of training programmes Such programmes like Starting a Small Business are conducted mainly for young people aged between 18 to 30 years who want to set up their own business in order to enable them to: #"Understand the various concepts and processes before starting a business like information, formalities and facilities. #"Generate a business idea and identify business opportunities. #"Conduct market research and prepare business plans. #"Workshops are also organised to encourage fresh graduates to start their own business. Conducting awareness campaigns To encourage and motivate young persons to opt for starting a small business. Half-day seminars are therefore organised in each district including Rodrigues whereby information is provided on such issues like LiveWIRE programmes, opportunities in the handicraft sector, facilities provided for women entrepreneurs, Mauritius Young Entrepreneur Trust, SMIDO and financial schemes that exist for Small and Medium Enterprises. LiveWIRE Mauritius has also participated in several career conventions and talks to disseminate information to school leavers and potential entrepreneurs on the option of starting a small business on a career path

14 Annual Young Business Start Up Awards The Shell LiveWIRE Young Business Start-up Award is run annually to recognize and celebrate the success and effort of young people in developing business plans and their achievements in small and medium businesses. Young entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 30 are invited to submit their respective business plans. Winners of the previous competition have been invited to participate in the LiveWIRE International Youth Enterprise Forum held in London

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