As the competition for employment and business opportunities contines to rise, many people find the need to equip themselves with the most vital skills to survive in a highly competitive society. Some of the most sellable skills fall under vocational and business. At Malaika Business and Vocational Institute (MBVI), the management and team is bent on delivering such skills to the public at an affordable cost.
We spoke to the management of Malaika Business and Vocational Institute, and share here what they had to say about what makes their institute tick.
Monday Times: Good afternoon Madam. We have heard a lot about Malaika Business and Vocational Institute. We would want to hear directly from you, what exactly does Malaika Business and Vocational Institute do?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: We are a skilling enterprise. Our core business is empowering those who join the institute to become self-employed or valuable employees in whichever place they work, that is related to the courses that we offer.
In a nutshell, we offer courses in hair dressing, cosmetology, beauty therapy, fashion and design, catering and hotel management.
We teach our students business management so that they form a business perspective to take with them to whichever work endeavor they choose after here.
Monday Times: This sounds good. Being an institute, do you admit anyone who comes, or you have certain limitations with requirements?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: Well, we have different levels of training, which have different kinds of requirements for enrollment. We have our diploma, which lasts for two years, and each student is expected to sit national council exams for them. To join this program, you need at least a Senior Six (Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education) level qualification. We then have the certificate course which also lasts for two years, and one needs at least a Senior Four (Uganda Certificate of Education), to enroll. For other courses, there are no entry level requirements of that kind. These include mainly short courses, whereby someone who even did not complete senior four, can enroll.
Monday Times: Does whoever completes the course get a certificate?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: Yes whoever completes the course, gets a certificate of completion except for the ones who do the diploma and certificate, who then get the national diploma or certificate.
Monday Times: Do you find placement for people who have passed through your courses?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: We try as much as we can to do so. First of all, we own the Sparkle Salons, which is a very good opportunity for those who excel at our institute. However even when we cannot place someone at Sparkle Salon, we have partners and other vocational businesses we interact with from time to time. These offer opportunities, which we can in turn share with our students. Above all, we teach them and encourage them to learn how to start their own businesses.
Monday Times: Considering that there might be other institutes that offer courses similar to yours, what makes you different from others who might be offering these kind of courses?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: That is a good question. Our main point of difference, is the quality we deliver and impart to the students. We ensure that our students do not come out half baked or semi-skilled. We train them seriously and all of them turn out to be very good quality people.
Monday Times: What are your opening hours and days?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: Our opening hours and days are Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 2pm. We only have classes from Monday to Friday.
Monday Times: Do you do mobile training? Meaning, if I have a group that wants to be trained where they live or work, can you send people to train them?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: Well, this is something we do not do often, however if someone wants this to happen, they can consult us and discuss and see. We cannot fail to come up with the right way of training those who are interesting in what we offer.
Monday Times: How are your fees like?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: Our fees are affordable, and they can be paid in installments, so that it is convenient for our students.
Monday Times: How do you handle a student who might be slow at learning?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: Well it is not difficult to manage students who are slow at learning because we offer practical courses. We find that all our students get the experience of doing things practically. This is unlike other courses that might be theoretical and need to be crammed. So far all our students do very well and learn through practical experiences.
Monday Times: There is a feeling that some of the courses you offer, are for women only. Are men allowed to apply?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: Sure even men can apply. In fact times have changed. Nowadays, men want to learn hair dressing and women want to learn barber skills. The good thing with us is that we teach all to our students. If one is a man, they can open their own salon and be able to run it efficiently because they understand the whole business.
Monday Times: Okay. So where are you located?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: We are located on 4th Floor at Ham Towers Opposite Makerere University and on 1st Floor Opportunity House, Old Kira Road, between Bukoto and Kamwokya.
Monday Times: Are you on Facebook?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: Yes we are on Facebook. Our page is Malaika Institute. https://web.facebook.com/malaikainsititute/
Monday Times: What phone numbers do you use for business?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: 0776132232/0756132232/0772587603
Monday Times: What is your website, for those who might want to visit it and get more information?
Malaika Business and Vocational Institute: http://www.malaikainstitute.com/
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