July Savings Month 2014

Savings Month Media Roundtable

“If you’re not already saving, then today might be the time to consider changing this mind-set and making a turning point in your savings plan.”

On the 2^nd of July 2014 I was in a media roundtable at Standard bank Rosebank. The aim of the media roundtable was to equip financial journalists about the plans of Standard Bank with regards to July Savings month. There were eight financial journalists who attended the media roundtable and we also had three spokespeople from Standard Bank who came to address the queries of the journalists.

My role was to meet and greet the journalists while giving them press packs, name tags, food packs and also ticking their attendance. I got an opportunity to form relationships with the journalists such as Njabulo Ngcobo from Daily Sun, moreover the experience of being in a media roundtable for the first time. I also saw the importance of networking as an aspiring Public Relations Practitioner.

The spokespeople of Standard Bank emphasised the importance of saving. We need to dispel the myth that you need to have a lot of money on hand if you want to save.  Every little bit, no matter how much, can make a difference,” says Michael Daniels, Head of Deposits and Payments at Standard Bank.

No one has it easy!!!

 

Adapting to a new environment and a new way of thinking and doing things can be quite daunting and very stressful; it does take its tall.

When I first stepped into Magna Carta's premises on the 3rd of February 2014. I was  completely blank on what's happening about the account of Standard Bank I'm working in. I couldn't comprehend the language they were speaking. I felt lost and depresssed, needless to say stupid!!!

I sometimes wondered why they chose me and only to remember the words of my lecturer Mrs. Benecke saying, education is a process -  you are what you are because of the things you've learnt yesterday. Without learning you won't know anything and it made me to feel better.

What are some of your experiences you encountered thus far? I know there's something please share.

Demystifying the word WIL

What does the term WIL mean?

Work integrated learning is a combination of two important words in experiential training: work and learning. The purpose of WIL is to bridge the gap between theory and praxis. WIL is a component that is used to prepare students for work-readiness with regards to their careers.

Public Relations and Communication is one of the courses that have a WIL component at the University of Johannesburg. Third year students are obliged to find a placement in any registered organisation that has a PR and Communication department to get hands on experience by integrating work and learning. The main reason for WIL is to learn by being involved rather than reading theories in vain without applying them practically. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” This quote clearly accentuates the essence of work integrated learning.

WIL is a very lucrative tool that is being used by higher institutions to produce quality graduates who are ready for the work place. It equips the individual with technical and soft skills that are essential ingredients for the work-readiness.

I strongly believe WIL should be utilised by all courses, because it is a great tool to prepare students for work-readiness and to be employable.