Congratulations to the Career Services team for being recognised by the SA Graduate Employers Association!

“This is a validation of our commitment to excellence and the positive impact we have made in the lives of our students and graduates,” said the Deputy Director of Student Services, Raphuti Mathekgane.

The South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) has rewarded Career Services at the University of Pretoria (UP) for its excellence in graduate recruitment and development; the Best Career Services and the Best Work Readiness Programme Awards.

SAGEA is a community of professionals that specialises in attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining graduate talent. It offers university career services professionals the opportunity to network with employers, learn from international leaders, discuss the latest job market trends and future skills, and share insights and best practices in the graduate recruitment space.

Every two years, SAGEA rewards outstanding examples of excellence in the graduate recruitment and development arenas with its biennial SAGEA Awards. The objective of the awards is to, among others, recognise and reward excellence and innovation in the graduate employment field; recognise institutions of higher learning that are committed to preparing graduates for the world of work; and highlight excellence in the provision of services to support the attraction and development of graduates.

“The SAGEA awards are a recognition of cumulative activities and industry engagement that happens all year round and are measured by the satisfaction of employers with the services offered by UP Career Services and the employability programmes in place to prepare UP students,” said Michele Le Grange,  Assistant Director of Operations and Career Services. 

According to Tando Tyakume, Acting Career Services Manager, employers are the main stakeholders that they service and are the ones with the voice and power to vote for a university’s career services that they deem to be efficient, effective, responsive and customer-centric, and that offer a wide range of opportunities for them to engage students.

The Best Career Services Award, a highly esteemed accolade, is intricately tied to the exceptional quality of customer service delivered by the team. Voted on by actively engaged employers, this recognition is a testament to the office's commitment to excellence. The assessment process encompasses a broad spectrum of initiatives, including impactful graduate recruitment activities such as career fairs, industry events, campus showcases, job advertisements, and mentorship programmes. This award serves as a resounding endorsement of the team's dedication to providing top-notch career services, highlighting the significance of their commitment to excellence in customer service.

The second award was for the Best Work Readiness Programme, which focuses on work-readiness initiatives that have shown evidence of preparing students for a smooth transition into the world of work. UP’s Mentorship Programme was entered for this category. It aims to expose final-year students to the world of work by pairing them with industry mentors, of which 80% are UP alumni and industry experts.

“Our programme is designed to empower students and graduates with the necessary skills, resources and guidance to excel in their careers,” said Johannah Legodi, Career Services coordinator. Furthermore, the career services is continuously committed to helping UP students to navigate the ever-evolving job market and achieve their professional goals.

“We strongly believe in the power of teamwork and collaboration. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, which has consistently strived to provide exceptional career services and promote the best employability practices,” said Dr Krinesha George, Career Services Coordinator.