The South African Board for People Practices (SABPP) recently honoured students who successfully registered as members of the board’s student chapter during a ceremony held at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus.

The SABPP is the professional quality and standards body for the human resources profession.

According to Debbie Mtshelwane, Human Resource Management programme leader in the School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management (IPS&HRM), the SABPP certification is highly regarded in the human resources industry.

“This ceremony was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students, and a celebration of the importance of people practices in the workplace,” she says.

Keynote speaker and chief executive officer of the SABPP, Xolani L Mawande, congratulated the students.

“In the corporate field it is important to network, and being a part of this student chapter would ensure your readiness for the job market,” said Xolani.

Debbie says this year’s event is just the beginning. “We are looking forward to organising recruitment workshops during which we will visit various high schools in Potchefstroom to educate Grade 11 to 12 learners on the prospects of furthering their studies and pursuing a career in human resources.

“Moreover, we also want to enrich our students’ skills by having a job preparation workshop. This will expose them to practical tips and coaching from human resource professionals and experienced recruiters, prepare them for the future by having mock interviews, and will help them to create effective resumes,” she explains.

“We also plan to end the year on a high note by dancing the night away at a corporate dinner to celebrate our achievements throughout the year,” adds Debbie.