Road Town, Tortola - The BVI London Office will be conducting its 4th annual BVI Students Professional Development Workshop, February 27 at BVI House.
Director of the London Office, Mr. Kedrick Malone explained, “This is an annual event for students in the United Kingdom (UK) and is designed to complement their formal education, assisting them with personal and professional development so that they are better equipped to enter or re-enter the workforce, as well as capitalize on the many opportunities available in the UK.”
This year’s workshop entitled “Network Your Way to Success”, is designed to equip students with the lifelong skill of building a network of contacts and relationships, that can bolster their success in their careers, as well as at university and life in general. This complements last year’s workshop which focused on building a professional image and focused on issues such as personal values, communication and appearance.
Mr. Malone told the Department of Information and Public Relations that this year it was decided to add a Student Forum to the workshop. “The forum provides students with the opportunity to give their input and feedback on how the BVI London Office can assist them most effectively during their time in the United Kingdom,” he said adding, “It will be an interactive session and will allow students to shape how the BVI London Office serves their needs.”
Mr. Malone further stated that the forum will facilitate discussion on a number of initiatives. The director identified one of these initiatives as “the development of a student/London Office library at BVI House to provide students with a space, apart from the work area, where they can spend time and make use of some of the information resources available through the London Office.”
Mr. Malone also spoke of an initiative to encourage students to undertake research projects of mutual relevance to their area of study and the development needs of the Virgin Islands and the introduction of a guide for new students to help them get settled in with living in the UK. “It will provide guidance and where possible, assistance with setting up basic needs such as banking relationships and other services,” he explained.
The upcoming workshop and student forum are in keeping with the objectives of the BVI London Office for 2010, one of which is to increase its relevance to the success of students by facilitating their development outside of the classroom, providing extension services and assisting with the resolution of issues.
The BVI London Office was established in 2002 to represent the interest of the Virgin Islands in the United Kingdom and Europe and also serves as headquarters for official visits to the UK/European region and supports Virgin Islanders living and studying in Britain. The BVI London Office falls under the portfolio of the Premier’s Office.
British Virgin Islands News