British Council's EUK, UKTI launch corporate initiative for employment of Pakistani students

KARACHI: British Council’s Education UK (EUK) and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) have joined hands to launch a corporate initiative that will work to bring Pakistani students in UK universities closer to potential employers in Pakistan. The initiative will also provide a platform for British and Pakistani businesses to network and contribute to the target of increasing bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United Kingdom to £2.5 billion by 2015.

The EUK-UKTI corporate initiative was officially launched on Friday, November 11, 2011 during a reception hosted by Francis Campbell – British Deputy High Commissioner Karachi and Director Trade & Investment, Pakistan, at the British Deputy High Commission. Nadia Kamran – Head of Education UK, Mashhood Rizvi – British Council Director (Sindh-Balochistan) along with Country Heads and HR Managers of leading international and local organizations in Pakistan also attended the event.

At the occasion Francis Campbell said: “UKTI’s main objective in Pakistan is to support British companies succeed in the local market. This corporate initiative is a great opportunity to provide these organizations a chance to recruit international standards of UK qualified task force.”

The partnership has plans to work in the following areas in an endeavor to strengthen education and trade ties between UK and Pakistan:

• Connect the HR departments of international and local companies operating in Pakistan to UK universities for better understanding of the job market and recruitment procedures in Pakistan that will further lead to potential partnerships with UK businesses and higher education institutions in the future.
• Organize Career Fairs in London, Manchester and Scotland beginning of 2012, where partner organizations will visit UK universities to interact with students and advise them on job opportunities in Pakistan. The participating businesses will also be able to offer jobs and internships to students.
• Create an online directory of employers interested in recruiting UK graduates.
• Initiate research into future prospects in Pakistan’s job market.

Nadia Kamran, Head of Education UK in Pakistan said, “Through this joint initiative with the UKTI, we want to bridge the gap between UK universities, Pakistani students and potential employers in Pakistan. This opens up new doors for graduates and employers alike. Graduates can find job opportunities that match their skill set and companies stand to benefit from the high standards and competence of UK qualified graduates.”

In addition to providing a platform to the students and potential employers in Pakistan, this initiative will also open avenues for the universities and the industry to exchange knowledge in key areas for the mutual benefit of both countries.