Human Resources Manager Ms Kaisa M. Penn was at the helm of the coordinating and overseeing of the National Scholars Forum and Job Fair held at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex on Tortola. Photo: VINO

The Ministry of Education and Culture's both, manned by Ms Tasha Bertie, was one of several that saw a good response. Photo: VINO

In excess of twenty private and public sector entities participated in the annual National Scholars Forum and Job Fair held on July 19, 2013 at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO

The BVI Post was one of the entities that attracted a number of persons at the National Scholars Forum and Job Fair. Photo: VINO

A high school student engages a representative of private sector employer, BDO Limited. Photo: VINO

“We were surprised because this time of the year generally a large number of students are still pursuing courses for the summer but in terms of the turnout we are very happy with what we have seen,” said Human Resources Manager of the Government of the Virgin Islands, Ms Kaisa M. Penn.

Ms Penn was at the helm of the coordinating and overseeing of the National Scholars Forum and Job Fair held at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex on Tortola. The hall of the complex was transformed into a job seekers friendly environment with in excess of twenty entities occupying inviting cubicles.

Among those present from the private sector were Digicel, ASM Financial Group and BDO Limited while those from the Government sector were the Department of Human Resources, Ministry of Education and Culture, the Department of Labour, VI Postal Service, and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) among others.

“The employers came out in full force. We definitely appreciate that, we see that we have their support in an initiative like this,” said Ms Penn. She said it was said to the employers and to the students that persons may not have walked away with job opportunities immediately as a result of participating or visiting the exercise as it was mainly about fostering a connection.

“It’s mainly about connecting the students and employers so that they can have knowledge of the students, one, but also so that they can get their names out there.” However, she said there were a few employers who were looking for suitably qualified persons with the potential to fill a small amount of vacancies.

It was also an opportunity for employers to know the potential pool of scholars that are soon likely to join the work force of the Virgin Islands. “Employers got an opportunity to know who is in the workforce, who our students are overseas pursuing studies so that they can have a general idea again of talent available to them.”

While persons may not have walked away from the exercise with an offer of a job, Ms Penn said that they had encouraged employers to at least offer internship opportunities, paid or not. “At the end of the day I think any opportunity to get experience is always a good one and if they can at least offer initially an intern opportunity it would be an excellent stepping stone for the student as well as the employers.”

The fair was opened to all national scholarship recipients, including those from the Ministry of Education and Culture’s scholarship programme, as well as the Department of Human Resources’ study-leave programme, and graduates from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).

The core objectives of the event were to provide an environment for employers, students and graduates to network and share information on talent needs and interests; provide the avenue for graduates to identify employment and internship opportunities, increase the understanding of the businesses within the Territory, and provide information on entrepreneurship opportunities within the Virgin Islands.