In the modern world, the role of education certificates is gradually shifting from being proof of being educated to proof of having gone to school. According to Bernard Kiragu, the executive director of the Traction School of Governance and Business (TSBG), the conventional degree qualification is more or less becoming a step towards achieving a professional goal and not the final destination in becoming an expert.
In an interview with Business Today, Kiragu says that modern employers are always looking for that extra academic edge and skill range when selecting candidates for a position, unlike the old days when a degree or diploma certificate would automatically land you a job.
“This has led to more individuals seeking to acquire expertise in the different market sectors they are in and therefore the demand and need for quality learning,” says Kiragu.
Seeing the skills gap in the job market, Kiragu decided to start a college that would offer professional courses that give one an edge in the job market.
Business Today had a tell-it-all interview with Kiragu and he had the following to say about the Traction School of Governance and Business (TSBG):-
BT: Tell us more about Traction School of Governance and Business and the courses offered.
Traction School of Governance and Business (TSGB), is a professional training institution duly registered and accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examination Board (kasneb), to provide training in a variety of Governance and Business-related courses.
Our courses include:
- Certified Secretaries (CS)
- Certified Public Accountants (CPA)
- Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (CIFA)
- Certified Credit Professionals (CCP)
- Certified Human Resource Professionals (CHRP)
- Accounting Technician Diploma (ATD)
- Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)
- Diploma in Corporate Governance (DCG)
Our NITA Approved trainings include:
- Human Resource Development Programs
- Company Secretarial
- Effective Budgeting and Cost Control
- Foundation of Finance Accounting Budgeting
- Corporate Governance
- Soft Skills and Emotional Programs
- The Balance Scorecard model strategy
- Effective Business Development Skills
- Corporate Identity and Brand Management
- Leadership and Governance
- Information and Cyber Security
- Social and Mental Wellness
- Capacity Building Programs
- Blockchain Technology
- Graphic Design
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Strategic Planning Development and Implementation
- Capacity Building Programs
- Human Resource Policy
BT: What inspired you to start the school?
Over the years, there has been a demand for experts versed in different fields across different sectors. This is because the conventional degree qualification is more or less becoming a step towards achieving a professional goal and not the final destination in becoming an expert. Acquiring a Professional certification is more than ever being seen as an initiative and ambition towards a career objective. Employers are always looking for that extra academic edge and skill range when selecting candidates for a position. This is because a professional certification not only shows evidence for market demand knowledge but also skills. This has led to more individuals seeking to acquire expertise in the different market sectors they are in and therefore the demand and need for quality learning. The world is also changing technologically and people are more than ever embracing online learning as to conventional learning. TSGB saw this need and has endeavoured technologically to meet this demand at affordable rates, and flexible study modes with trainers that have a combined package of knowledge and industry experience.
BT: Why did you choose the name Traction School of Governance and Business?
Traction in itself is gaining progress or momentum. Being a school of business and governance, we intend to develop a generation of governance practitioners who will create an impact and make the world a better place for coming generations
BT: Tell us about the performance of students who have gone through the school.
TSGB has over the years had a stellar performance in the courses that we offer especially CS. We managed to produce the best CS student in the year 2021 for the three examination sittings. We continue to have a high pass rate for the course because of the industry experience trainers that we have engaged. This is evidenced by the high number of students who choose TSGB as their institution of learning as our reputation precedes itself.
BT: Lately, there have been several cases of half-baked graduates in the job market. How is Traction School of Governance and Business handling its students to make sure its graduates are not half-baked?
First, the process of registering a student is thorough. We ascertain that the documents presented to us during registration are authentic in order to determine if the student will be able to comprehend the content that is found in each course. After registration, we have a mechanism that allows us to ensure that the student attends classes, does CATs, quizzes and internal exams through our state-of-the-art Learning Management System. The system monitors the progress of the student up until board exams. Additionally, the fact that all our courses are professional, we ensure students are tutored by industry-experienced lecturers in order to get learning that is market-based, practical and not theoretical. We also ensure that each student gets an industrial-based attachment in order to gain hands-on experience before graduating with any qualification.
BT: What are some of the innovations you are putting in the school to make the school stand out?
Our state-of-the-art Learning Management System enables our students to learn without having to be on campus. The system allows a self-paced study environment that caters to working students and any other student at large. It’s a real-time classroom experience in the comfort of the student’s environment. We also endeavour to improve the system as the needs arise.
BT: Where do you see Traction School of Governance and Business in the next five years?
I see TSGB as one of the best online campuses in the East Africa region offering governance and business-related courses.
BT: If you were to change anything in the education sector in the institutions of higher learning, what would it be? And why?
I would advocate for a more practical based kind of learning instead of the conventional theoretical kind of learning.
The corporate world is changing and what sells is skills and practical knowledge. We need solutions-based experts. Individuals who are able to come up with solutions to solve emerging issues and not “read from a manual” kind of professionals. This needs a complete overhaul of how most graduates have been programmed.
BT: What would be your advice on students who do not pursue skill-based education after their secondary education?
Post-secondary skill-based education is very important if one can afford it because it opens you up to more opportunities not only in the corporate world but individually. It broadens your thoughts in order to become adaptable to the working environment. The world is becoming more dynamic and therefore one needs to be a problem solver and not a “script reader”.
With skilled-based education, you will be able to think out of the box, create solutions and contribute to emerging issues.
BT: Your parting shot?
Let’s build an education system that is modelled around skills, practicability and solutions-based and move away from the conventional theory-based kind of learning.
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