PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
The First Year @ Tertiary Empowerment (FYTE) Programme is a learner enablement and support programme designed to empower learners to successfully navigate the challenges that come with tertiary life. The purpose of the programme is to provide academic and social support to first year students at tertiary by nurturing and supporting them to smoothly and successfully transition from high school into tertiary.
Taking into account that most underprivileged learners come from social upbringings and schooling systems that provide very little to no extra curricula support and families where role models and a professional work culture lack as a result of high unemployment and poverty levels.
This structured support programme will be delivered throughout the first year of students at FET’s and universities in the form of tutorials and workshops to provide holistic support and development to students, including peer support groups.
This programme serves as a holistic wrap around programme for individual students and groups of bursary funded students that would like to display good people and leadership skills thus significantly improving their chances of gaining employment.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Induction
Contracting with bursar/ funder.
Buddy System.
SEKSSI
Success Enhancing Knowledge, Skills & Strategy Intervention
Networking Skills
Full day facilitated session on Essential Networking Skills .
Group Mentorship
Career insights dialogues and guidance with professionals.
Employability Skills
Full day facilitated life skills session to equip students with workplace skills for success.
Networking Seminar
Networking seminar for students and professionals.
PROGRAMME CONTENT
Induction
An induction programme is essential to introduce students to the funder and make them fully understand the funding requirements and commitments towards the funder, what their contractual obligations are and expectations. The students will sign an agreement to abide by the rules of the programme and to participate in compulsory programmes designed for their empowerment and development.
Students will be taken step by step through the programme and contract before signing the study agreement to ensure they understand what they commit to.
A buddy system will be introduced where students will be paired to provide peer support and guidance to younger students. This buddy system will make the transition from school to tertiary easier for first year students by guiding them through tertiary life and on how to deal with challenges.
SEKSSI
The Success Enhancing Knowledge, Skills & Strategy Intervention aims to equip first year students with critical knowledge, skills and strategies to integrate and adapt successfully into their new environment, thereby enhancing their chances for success against the backdrop of the current national dropout rates of around 30% at first year level.
Topics
- Goal Setting
- Decision-Making
- Career Choice Uncertainty
- Peer Pressure
- Choice of Friends
- Self-Esteem
- Academic Support
- Relationships
- Sex & Sexuality: Managing the Risks
- Time Management
- Managing Freedom
Networking Skills
The purpose of the workshop is to help students and young professionals realise the importance of networking and to empower them with networking skills for the place of work including functions such as conferences. At the end of the session delegates would have developed confidence on how to position themselves as a brand, engage with confidence and analyse their networks.
The session is conducted in a practical and interactive manner on the below topics and includes a talk from a professional who has successfully networked in the place of work.
- The importance of networking
- How to network professional
- How to make a good impression
- Holding a conversation
- Network Management
Group Mentorship Sessions
Facilitated group mentorship sessions will be conducted twice a year for students to gain insight and understanding on certain careers. By engaging and interacting with successful professionals in practice and entrepreneurs they will be inspired to pursue success in spite of the challenges and difficulties they might be faced with.
AMAVA Talent in collaboration with the client will choose careers and speakers relevant to the students and facilitate dialogues to achieve the desired outcomes of enlightening students on careers, what it takes to succeed in the workplace, lessons learned and hindrances to success.
Employability Skills
Students need to understand how to develop themselves and the skills required for them to be employable. As important as academic achievement is, students need to be well rounded achievers by enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the work place and developing critical soft skills that provide a solid foundation to a successful career.
Regardless of the job and industry graduates will go into, workplace soft skills are the transferable skills they will need to stand out and be noticed.
The range of topics covered in this programme are a combination of employability skills, workplace success skills and 21st century skills
- Applying for a job successfully
- Successful Interview Skills
- Managing your Personal Finances
- Business Ethics
- Business Etiquette
- Customer Service
- Self-control and Appropriate Social Behavior
- Workplace Harassment
- Collaboration and Team Work
- Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
- Creativity and Innovation
Networking Seminar
Towards the end of the academic year students will attend a networking seminar with students and faculty from associations such as Thuthuka, NSFAS, SAADP, Study Trust, Golden Key Society, Toast Masters, ABASA Student Chapters, debate clubs, Athletics & Sports Clubs, Enactus, AIFMRM (African Institute of Financial Markets and Risk Management) etc., potential employers and recruiters, young professionals and university faculty members to highlight the impact of the programme. This is also an opportunity for students to network practically, create networks for future employment and professional development.