Career Guidance for Uganda Secondary Schools Career Guidance Manual for Uganda Secondary Schools Table of Contents Foreword 1 Acknowledgements 2 List of Acronyms 3 Introduction 4 What is Career Guidance? 4 Who is responsible for career guidance? 4 Why is career guidance important? 4 Top tips 5 Where will jobs be most available 10 Pathways through Education 11 How to use the Career Guidance Manual 6 Chapter One: Career Guide 7 What do you need to know when choosing a career path? 7 Do I need a degree? 12 Chapter Two: Job Profiles 16 Profiles and Sectors 18 Careers in Agriculture, Animals and the Environment 23 Careers in Art and Design 36 Careers in Business, Sales & Marketing 43 Careers in Civil Service 53 Careers in Education and Training 56 Careers in Engineering and Construction 62 Careers in Finance 72 Careers in Food and Nutrition 78 Careers in Health 82 Careers in Hospitality and Catering 94 Careers in ICT and Information Management 100 Careers in Law 107 Careers in Mining and Natural Resources 110 24 Careers in NGOs, Community and Social Development (including faith based development) 113 Careers in Performing Arts, TV, Film and Music 119 Careers in Publishing and Journalism 126 Careers in Science 130 Careers in Security and Uniformed Services 134 Careers in Tourism, Leisure and Sports 139 Careers in Transport and Logistics 143 Vocational Careers/ General Services 149 Chapter Three: Practical steps to finding a job 154 Where to look for a job 154 What does an employer look for? 155 What should go in a CV? 155 How to write a good cover letter 157 What to do if you get an interview 157 Chapter Four: Practical steps for applying to universities and other higher education institutions 159 How to choose a course? 159 How to choose a place to study? 159 Vocational training courses 160 The costs of higher education 160 Scholarships, loans and grants 161 How to apply for a course 163 Understanding cut-off points: 164 Chapter Five: Overview of Ugandan Universities and Colleges and the courses offered 166 Public Universities 166 Private Chartered Universities 181 Other Private Universities 191 Other degree awarding institutions 200 This manual is copyright free but please reference it if you copy sections: Africa Educational Trust (2016), Career Guidance Manual for Secondary Schools in Uganda For further information, contact: [email protected] Foreword Everyone has to start somewhere. Thinking about where you want to go, what you want to do and how to get there, can be a daunting experience for anyone. However, everyone should have a choice and a chance to fulfil their potential. The Africa Educational Trust believes that education is the route to enabling people to fulfil that potential. Gaining Julie qualifications, skills and experience are essential in today’s competitive world Polzerova but then deciding which qualifications and in what field can be another matter all-together. Career guidance can open up a whole new horizon of possibilities and define the route to achievement. If you are a young person reading this guide for the first time – don’t limit yourself! We all work better in a role that we have a love for and it may take some time for you to find what you truly enjoy doing. If you are a teacher or mentor, this is the next stage to the investment you have made in your young charges and we hope it will help you to move them into gainful employment. This Career Guide can be a useful resource to help young people make key decisions about their future direction, but also be an on-going source of reference as their choices and life stages develop. I am proud to say that it has been developed with just the young people that it is designed to help, and that input is vital to ensure it truly reflects their information and support needs in today’s world of work. For all those starting out in their career, may I wish you every success in your future profession. Julie Polzerova Executive Director Africa Educational Trust Career Guidance Manual for Uganda Secondary Schools 1 Contributors came from the following Acknowledgements organisations: This manual is a collaborative effort of professionals, academics, teachers and students. Africa Educational Trust would like to thank everyone who participated Ministry of Education in our design and editing workshops for their valuable input and guidance. As and Sports far as possible, we have tried to acknowledge everyone below. Particular thanks to teachers and students of our 8 partner secondary schools (Iceme Girls, Ngai, National Curriculum Acaba and Otwal Secondaries in Oyam District and to Okwang, Orum, Otuke and Development Centre Adwari Secondaries in Otuke District) for both their support in testing materials and also their patience in waiting for the finished product. Kampala International University List of contributors: Kyambogo University Namakula Rebecca Opio Ambrose Okello Emmanuel Twine Said Rwendeire Adella Amule Joyce All Saints’ University, Lango Scovia Katushabe Nyago Monica Amongi Sarah Nabajja Sophia Auma Sandra Ongom Joel Felix Uganda National Chamber Dr Ssemugenyi Fred Amongi Jennifer Ogwal Boniface of Commerce Kanyike John Atoo Sarah Odur Sam Mboneka Patience Alwedo Theresa Akullu Susan Uganda Police Force Eluk Job Owing Emmanuel Ager Lameck Akwang Nancy Otim Richard Alyek Eunice MTN Uganda Manshur Suwed Amen Jannet Okuk Denis Rev. James Awany Gony Daniel Ogwara Jolly Church of Uganda Keloy Otto Aceng Lillian Obong Sam Phillips Ogile Okello Bonny Akoko Salume Anjeline Unity FM Radio station Rev. Canon Otto Olima Odora Samuel Baker Omara Emmanuel Ian Acio Sharon Faith Omara John Koli Cicilia Mukwano Group of Dr Ekwong Nelson Denis Aciro Monica Wokuti Daniel Philip Companies Florence Mwesigwa Abote Eunice Okao Daniel Ben Tumugabire Ayo Jonathan Samuel Obina Literacy and Adult Basic Godfrey Okello Opio Florence Eyen Akello Alice Education Vincent Alele Akite Florence Omara Immaculate Nanteza Bosco Ogwang Edola Ojwang Innocent Craig Kadoda Ogar Health Centre III Stellah Tumwabeze Ogwal Calvin Rasin Aaron Jell Isaac Aguma Abeja Diddy Monica Marika de Faramond Child Restoration Outreach, Arthur Kato Agweng Sharon Adrienne Gregory Lira Norbert Ekiyakunzire Okello Patrick Sara Cottingham Opio Samuel Oguma Charles Lesley Waller Office of the President Otiti Patrick Ogwal Ambrose DFCU Bank NEkiN Design-Construction Ltd CNOOC Uganda Ltd 242 Career Guidance Manual for Uganda Secondary Schools List of Acronyms AFRISA Africa Institute for Strategic Studies B. Bachelor BA Bachelor of Arts BBA Bachelor of Business Administration B.Eng Bachelor of Engineering BSc Bachelor of Science CV Curriculum Vitae HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus HR Human Resources ICT Information and Communication Technology IT Information Technology NGO Non-governmental Organisation NTC National Teachers College PR Public Relations PTC Primary Teachers College S4 Senior 4 S6 Senior 6 UACE Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education UCC Uganda College of Commerce UCE Uganda Certificate of Education UTAMU Uganda Technology and Management University UTC Uganda Technical Colleges Career Guidance Manual for Uganda Secondary Schools Career Guidance Manual for Uganda Secondary Schools 3 Introduction This Career Guidance Manual provides you with information about careers (jobs) and higher education (college, university, vocational training) opportunities for when you have completed S4 or S6. It is a reference book divided into five chapters, and you can use the contents page to look things up that you want to know. For example, you might want to look up jobs in the Police or how to write a CV. It also contains the information needed by secondary teachers when guiding their students. What is Career Guidance? Career guidance helps you to decide what career you want and how to achieve your goal. Career guidance is for your whole career – from helping you choose the best A-Levels or Certificate courses to helping you change careers or get a promotion later in life. Through career guidance: • You find out about the different types of careers/jobs available • You learn about your interests, values, skills and career goals and explore suitable careers based on this information • You use the guidance to decide which is the best choice of career for you • You learn that both men and women have the same choice of jobs • You find practical advice on how you can get into your chosen career such as how to apply and fund your chosen course, how to write a strong CV and how to succeed at interviews Who is responsible for career guidance? The Ministry of Education and Sports requires that all secondary schools have dedicated time throughout the year to spend on career guidance. USE YOUR OWN INITIATIVE: While you may have some lessons on careers, you are likely to have more questions or to need individual advice. Take time to find out information for yourself from available resources and ask advice from your school career guidance counsellor, teachers, parents, friends or anyone you know in a career or technical area of interest to you. Why is career guidance important? In Uganda today, there is a huge rise in the number of jobless youth. Some of the challenges you face in starting a career include: – Not having the right information in time to choose A-Levels that are suitable for your chosen university course. Many students go on to pursue degrees based on results, rather than courses they would like to have chosen. – Lack of awareness of where jobs will be available, leading students to choose courses that do not give them relevant qualifications for the job market. – Lack of work experience; many employers are looking for people with some work experience. This can be especially challenging when trying to get your first job. – Not looking beyond your study area. A degree does not necessarily limit you to a job in that field, as transferable skills gained at university can help you get jobs in other sectors e.g.