According to Mike Jackson, chief executive officer of PPS, the student lounge is the first of many that the company plans to open at various campuses across South Africa. "The overall aim of this project is to provide an environment that assists qualifying PPS students with career development issues and enable access to relevant professional associations to not only enhance their educational experience but open up career opportunities."
The lounge will offer qualifying PPS student members an exclusive place to escape from the hustle and bustle of campus life to focus on their studies or even conduct a private meeting in the boardroom, says Jackson. "The lounge also provides students with access to professional journals, the internet and free WIFI to ensure that they remain up-to-date on the latest business and industry news."
Students who qualify for PPS were able to make contact with the professional associations that represent the engineering industry at the launch.
Attendees of the opening were addressed by Jackson; Vaughan Rimbault, CEO of The South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE); Manglin Pillay, CEO of The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) and Andre Hoffmann, Senior Vice President of The South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE).
A range of professional associations have already committed to take part in this project whereby representatives from the various professional associations will be regularly available to discuss students' future career options.
Rimbault's advice for the students is to associate themselves with top quality professional organisations as soon as they have completed their studies in order to boost their careers in the long run. "PPS is one of the only companies that insures professionals because of their qualifications. PPS was setup 70 years ago to be the best it can be in its field and therefore operates at a top level with a high degree of corporate governance and is a good company for students to associate themselves with to ensure their finances are protected."
PPS will be opening additional lounges if the concept proves to be successful.
