We had an interesting day today as the IBM team met with an agency called OFPPT. This a large govt agency in Morocco that provides Vocational Training across many job competencies as well as facilitating the finding of employment for its graduates. We met in an assembly hall where we had some introductions from the various partners involved in the day and then split off into 3
groups. Our IBM group spoke about digital media and how to best prepare yourself for jobs in a field where these roles are scarce in Morocco. Our theme was to keep growing their skills at school and out of school, to look for opportunities while volunteering, and to not only grow their technical skills but remember the soft skills such as leadership and communication.
It was announced at the session that IBM will be looking to the OFPPT as a source of employees for it's Global Delivery Centre in Morocco which was great news for these students. Today they have 30 staff and are looking to grow to 400 by 2017.
Our team got the students in a group circle and got them to stand and introduce themselves which I heard afterwards is not something they have done before. The students were engaged and participated actively. Lots of good questions about students having a hard time leveraging their skills in the current Moroccan market. One student was looking to start a website for freelancers to link to potential clients. Several students spoke English quite well. Our student group which was in an IT stream was 90% male. My female colleagues reached out the women afterwards. Several students came up to us individually to get our email addresses to help guide or coach them. Overall I was really impressed with their critical thinking. Given the chance, they will do well.
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