YOU ARE ON MUTE! PREPARE FOR VIRTUAL INDUSTRY ATTACHMENT AND APPRENTICESHIP.

‘I think you are on mute” is arguably said to be the most popular workplace phrase of 2020, as many organizations and companies strive to streamline their work cultures to meet the unexpected effects of COVID-19. How shall we call ourselves a digital generation ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution(4IR) when a simple task of tapping or long pressing a computer space bar on the keyboard to unmute a zoom call has been an uphill struggle?

 Indeed, Covid-19 has left many on ‘mute’. According to the World Bank’s June 2021 Kenya economic update, the strict containment measures have impacted economic activity and labor markets which resulted in huge losses of employment, dropping from 71% of the population at the end of 2019 to 50% in May-June 2020. It further indicates once mobility restrictions were lifted, the situation began improving, with employment increasing to 66% in January–March 2021. Unemployment has halved from 18% in October–November 2020 to 9% in January–March 2021.

 The huge unemployment challenge has also severely affected university and college students seeking industrial attachment opportunities leave alone virtual graduation ceremonies. The government has continually provided industrial attachment to many students. However, with Covid-19, are most of its office computers updated enough to install zoom? Have they prepared the necessary environment to support these students including effective policies? Graduates gaining both technical and soft skills is paramount in developing a dependable work force this country needs. The private sector is still giving most students promises as they wait to see the waves of COVID-19. Let’s not talk about paid and unpaid attachment or internship for now. The questions are our centers of learning ready to support their students to get productive virtual attachments? Are employers ready? Importantly, are our students ready for virtual industrial attachment?

Students: To be able to work virtually, knowledge in basic computer packages is no longer enough. Digital literacy has changed. Students must find out tools in use in most workplace environments and take on short online courses. To mention but a few, tools like Slack, Meet, Zoom, Teams, Trello, Google Calendar, Google drive, Padlet, Monday etc, are very essential when it comes to remote working. 

 Taking on a virtual attachment will mean having a high sense of responsibility and being organised with priorities. To understand that working virtually does not mean keeping silent until when asked to speak or contribute. Managers can be busy at times, as a student you may be required to plan your own week virtually, identify some space on your manager’s calendar and fix one on one meetings, limit interruptions, work with live documents and strive to be updated always on activity progress.

 Imagine a student working virtually going to submit a report in a cyber café and leaving the organisation’s google drive open? Students must understand the risk that may be surrounding them in a digital environment including following strictly set policies such as data privacy.

 Learning institutions: They must be ready to embrace this translon. Essentials of remote working should be introduced for students headed for attachments. Attachment policies should be redrafted to reflect current times. Learners' habits must be captured during online classes and scorecards developed based on their online behaviors and collaborations. They should also share this information with policy makers and employers to help them make informed choices.

 Employers. Employers must be ready to pilot virtual attachments. Learn from mistakes and build for the future. The government should change its policies on industrial attachment to create an enabling environment.

Conclusion

While remote working remains a changing discussion, studies indicate that if well embraced, it has a huge potential for productivity. Agreeing to the fact that not all university courses can manage virtual attachments, it’s important to take early steps to prepare our work force for the future.

 Nelson Komba

nelsonkomba33@gmail.com