University of Alberta Edmonton, Canada 29 November 1996

Students must learn how to deal with other cultures, says Alberta Chamber of Commerce president

The President of the Alberta Chamber of Commerce says the University of Alberta is doing an excellent job of preparing its graduates for the world of work, but the education system has to start incorporating and teaching entrepreneurial skills earlier on in its programs.

"There's always room for improvement," Cheryl Knebel (Bcom '76) told Senate members at their regular meeting, 22 November, in the Stollery Centre. At the discussion panel on "Preparing Graduates for the World of Work", Knebel said President Rod Fraser's expectations of students (See this page for list) are excellent. "If students are going to have a good, steady job, they're going to have to have these skills."

Knebel said increasingly students are going to have to be able to work in teams when they hit the work world, and international experience is also going to become more important. She reminded Senate members that the province's economy is built on exports, so students are going to have to be able to understand and deal with other cultures.

Well-rounded people will be better suited for positions of leadership, she said. The University must get students to understand that the skills they do have are marketable. Moreover, graduates' expectations have to be realistic, and they must learn to transfer their skills from job to job, she said, pointing out that there are no longer any guaranteed jobs.

Chancellor Lou Hyndman said the employers in the community are the best people to tell the University what kind of a job it's doing to prepare students for the world of work.

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