Over 50 university students from University of Rwanda, Remera Campus, were this week trained on effective skills that would help them succeed in their careers. The three-day training aimed at equipping students with communication skills that would enable them succeed in their respective careers. The training was offered by Genius Africa Consult through UR career development office, as part of their professional development programs. Genius Africa Consultant is an education consulting organisation that aims at making education more empowering in Africa through intellectual and professional development products and services. Key elements that were covered during the training included writing, speaking, and designing. Eric Niyitanga, author and CEO of Genius Africa said they aimed at equipping students with tools they need to communicate effectively especially in writing: they learnt about the principles of writing, process, and different document formats. Niyitanga said they aimed at equipping students with tools they need to communicate effectively The beneficiaries were also taken through what many people fear and fail at-public speaking, and were advised to regard it as an important skill since the ability to speak in public is so crucial for any career. According to organisers, research has found that more people fear speaking in public than death. However, this fear can be overcome by learning some principles, strategies, and practice. Meanwhile, for presentation design, the training helped equip the trainees with the tools they need to design a readable and memorable PowerPoint presentation. “PowerPoint slides are a common tool for professional presentations. With the right skills and strategies, you can take advantage of it and make an impact with your communication,” said Niyitanga. Wendy Gatoya Uwase, a 4th-year medical student who was among the trainees said being a medical personnel only isn’t enough, and it’s even pointless to be in this area believed to be number one service career when you don’t have the ability to communicate with your patients. To her, the training has come in handy as it will see her achieve the full package when it comes to her medical career as far as having the required skills is concerned. “Effective communication training was educative and interesting. All the skills I have acquired will help me from now on and throughout my medical career. For now, I am confident that whenever I have a speech to deliver or slides to present, I will be qualified to do it well,” she said. Communication skills, adaptability and leadership critical thinking, creativity and innovation, technology and media literacy among many are abilities students need to succeed in the information age.
