Better prepared for world of work

Sixteen students have completed a four-week summer internship programme with the Caribbean Examinations Council® (CXC®).

The regional organisation selected the students from a competitive field of qualified applicants who were seeking the opportunity to learn on-the-job. The interns were assigned to six areas within the Barbados office (Eastern Zone Office) – the Office of the Registrar, Examinations Administration and Security, Examinations Development and Production, Finance and Office Management, Human Resource and Information Technology Services.

The interns spoke highly of the experience gained at CXC®, highlighting areas such as the importance of communication, having a positive attitude and the opportunity for personal development through teamwork and learning from mistakes.

Marisa Worrell, who will shortly be pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at the University of the West Indies, shared what the experience was like for her. “I gained administrative experience in the legal field and an understanding of how legal information is effectively analysed, researched and summarised. I was also exposed to Risk Management and Corporate Governance, which were new areas for me.”

Her counterparts Emery Elfise and Joshua Harper, who are pursuing degrees in Computer Studies and Actuarial Science and Statistics, respectively, were also thankful for the programme as it provided the opportunity to utilise what they are learning in the classroom and gave them the much-needed experience which potential employers value.

The internship programme is an annual initiative for CXC® and Registrar and CEO of the organisation Dr Wayne Wesley spoke of the programme’s importance. “As an institution which focuses on the human resource development of the region, we view our internship programme as a bridge between learning and employment. After the internship, our students will have a greater understanding of what their careers require and the level of professionalism that is expected in any organisation.”

Division Heads and Senior Managers at CXC® indicated that the interns were eager to learn and made a valuable contribution to the organisation at a very crucial time. (PR)