News Releases

UWI World Of Work promotes Caribbean Entrepreneurship

For Release Upon Receipt - January 19, 2008

St. Augustine


The University of the West Indies (UWI) will host Mr. Dave Ramkissoon, CEO of Electrical Industries Limited (EIL) as a feature speaker in the UWI World of Work programme (WOW). EIL is one of the leading private sector companies in Trinidad and Tobago. As part of the WOW 2008 Seminar, on Saturday 26th January, Mr. Ramkissoon will provide UWI final year students with a first-hand account of his experience as a Caribbean entrepreneur.

The annual World of Work programme, which is designed to equip final year UWI students with the necessary tools for long-term success in the globalised work environment, will be hosted by the University, in conjunction with Republic Bank Limited from January 24 to March 7, 2008, at the UWI Sport and Physical Education Centre (SPEC).

Mr. Ramkissoon is a self-made businessman who started off in 1981 conducting retail of miscellaneous items in Cocoyea, San Fernando. In 1986, he formed Electrical Distributors Limited, (EDL) which within a few years evolved into the leading wholesale electrical distribution company in South Trinidad. In 1987, he later acquired Trinidad Cables Limited, (TCL) which was a manufacturing enterprise specialising in the manufacture of electrical cables. By 1988, Mr. Ramkission had successfully turned TCL around and by 1989; it was merged with EDL under Trinidad Electrical Manufacturing Corp. Limited (TEMCO).

TEMCO Ltd. competed with a Neal & Massy Limited cable manufacturing company - Electrical Industries Limited (EIL), until 1997 when Mr. Ramkissoon acquired EIL, thereby becoming the largest electrical cable manufacturer in the Caribbean. Through strong leadership; Mr. Ramkissoon achieved quick financial turnaround by putting EIL back on a profitable track. Today, EIL stands out as one of the leading private sector companies in Trinidad and Tobago.

At the WOW Seminar, Republic’s General Manager, Group Marketing and Communications, Mrs. Anna Maria Garcia-Brooks is also slated to deliver a motivational address to the students. For another consecutive year, the WOW programme is being fully sponsored by Republic Bank.

WOW 2008 will include five main events, as follows:

World of Work 2008

Event Date Time Venue

Resume Writing Workshop 24th January 1.30 – 2:30 p.m. UWI SPEC

WOW Seminar 26th January 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon UWI SPEC

Professional Etiquette 14th February 1.30 – 2:30 p.m. UWI SPEC

Mock Interviews 16th-23rd February 9:00 a.m. -12:00 noon UWI SPEC

Recruitment Fair 6th -7th March 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. UWI SPEC

Registration runs from Wednesday 16th to Tuesday 22nd January, 2008.

Each component of the WOW 2008 programme is specifically intended to develop a targeted skill set. The Resume Writing Workshop will teach participants how to make their resumes more competitive in the global job market; the WOW Seminar will address issues of entrepreneurship. The Mock Interview session allows each student to practice their interview skills with real business professionals, while the Recruitment Fair which will take place over two days, with one day open to all students and another restricted to final year students, has companies and organisations from a variety of fields to recruit students for either vacation or graduate employment.

Since its inception over ten years ago, WOW has attracted an increasing number of participants. More than 1150 final year students participated in WOW 2007, compared to 850 in 2006. Many local, regional and international companies have participated in previous installations of this highly anticipated annual event, and this year promises an even greater participation from companies based in CARICOM territories. Over 50 companies and organisations from a wide variety of fields will once again be invited to recruit students for either vacation or graduate employment.

For further information, contact Mr. Chandar Gupta Supersad, UWI Student Advisory Services at (868) 662 2002 Ext. 2360, Ms. Marva Belfast Ext. 2098, or Ms. Sabrina Pierre Ext. 2325.

Contact

  • Mr. Chandar Gupta Supersad, Ms. Marva Belfast or Ms. Sabrina Pierre

  • Faculty/Department

  • Tel.: (868) 662 2002 Ext. 2360/2098/2325
  • Email: csupersad@admin.uwi.tt