Standard Bank Namibia has provided workplace readiness training to students with disabilities from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia (UNAM) to improve their employment prospects.
The training, held at the bank’s head office in Windhoek, focused on equipping students with practical skills needed to transition from tertiary education into the labour market.
The workshop covered curriculum vitae (CV) development, interview preparation, career planning and confidence-building, alongside mock interviews designed to familiarise participants with recruitment processes.
Students also engaged with Standard Bank employees and senior management to gain an understanding of workplace expectations, career development and professional opportunities.
Standard Bank Namibia Executive Officer for People and Culture, Retuura Ballotti, said improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities requires preparing them for the labour market before they begin seeking jobs.
“Workplace inclusion is about more than opening doors. It is about ensuring that people have the confidence, skills, networks and opportunities they need to walk through those doors and succeed,” Ballotti said.
“Through initiatives such as this workshop, we are investing in people and helping to create pathways into meaningful careers for talented young Namibians living with disabilities.”
The initiative forms part of the bank’s broader diversity, equity and inclusion programme, which seeks to address barriers affecting people with disabilities in accessing employment and workplace opportunities.
Earlier this year, Standard Bank Namibia announced a partnership with the National Disability Council of Namibia (NDCN) to improve accessibility and inclusion across its operations.
The partnership followed an independent accessibility assessment which found that the bank’s head office was 95% compliant with the National Disability Accessibility Standards.
The collaboration focuses on improving physical accessibility, disability awareness, assistive technologies and access to banking services and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Standard Bank said the workplace readiness programme is intended to help students develop the skills and confidence needed to compete for employment opportunities after completing their studies.
