Kyd challenges teens to think beyond jobs to careers
Published on 21 July, 2009
CQUniversity's Professor Jennelle Kyd* this week (Tuesday, July 21) challenged Rockhampton high school students to think beyond the jobs available now and aspire to long-term careers....
LINK here for VIDEO of Professor Kyd's presentation
In her address to launch the Australian Resources Careers Market at QREX (the Queensland Resources Expo), Professor Kyd encouraged her young audience to "think about what education can do for you".
She spoke about the benefits of transferable skills, lifelong learning, use of intellectual capacity and the right balance of knowledge.
"One of the most important current visions that affects you personally is that your age-group when you get into your 20s ... you're expected to have 40 per cent of you, that's 4 out of every 10 people, are expected to have a bachelor-level award from a tertiary institution," Professor Kyd said.
"You've got to think about what you might like to do ... you are probably thinking about very tangible things ... that's a really good starting point and a good ambition but always keep your mind open.
"It's OK to think about jobs but what you should be thinking about is what is my career and what is it I want to do with myself and how do I want to contribute to my workforce."
Professor Kyd spoke about the benefit of Australian tertiary qualifications being internationally recognised and accepted.
"One of the trends as technology has become so effective and efficient is that we are now becoming a global economy and as such we become a global workforce.
"The Resources industry needs people skilled in many areas - not just on the technology side - so there are a lot of opportunities.
"Don't just think about the dollars now. Tertiary qualifications will give you higher starting salaries and higher salary returns over time."
* Professor Kyd is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Scholarship & Industry) at CQUniversity Australia.
QREX details are available at: http://www.qrex.com.au/
Program details via: http://www.qrex.com.au/programme/2009-program/
