CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background To The Study

Internship is a requirement by the University of Buea as a partial fulfilment for the award of a bachelor degree. It intends to match theory to practice by enabling candidates have a gross overview of the various activities performed in all departments of the organisation. Against this background, I was privileged to be an intern at the Buea Central Cooperative Credit Union Ltd for a period of two (2) months and was guided by a field supervisor, Mr. Jin Ezekiel.

1.2 Definition Of Internship

Internship is an opportunity to integrate career related experience into an undergraduate by participating in a planned and supervised work. It also provides real world experience to those looking to explore or gain the relevant knowledge and skills required to enter into a particular career field.

Internship even though relatively short term in nature has a primary focus to incorporate on the job training and classroom exercise and it application in the real world. Interns are usually high school students, University students and even adults interested in carrying out new career plans. Thus many University students do internship to gain relevant skills in particular career field as well as to determine if they have a genuine interest in the field.

1.3 Characteristics Of Internship

Generally speaking, internship contributes to student’s personal and professional career development through challenging work assignment and having it completed before the student graduates from the University.

Furthermore, it is planned and control schedule as it works perfectly in consultation with all departments of the company/organisation as well as fit into the undergraduate experience. Hence, interns are required to write and present a report/an account of their experience or work carried out during the training period.

Internship is an integration of department, colleges, Universities and employers. It presents an attempt to bring together department, colleges, Universities and employers to a common way of producing the daily and efficient workers capable of handling effective needs of customers. It also helps to foster collaboration between these institutions.

It also includes career related experience that compliment what is learned at school.

It involves a supervisory component. The intern is constantly monitored and receives lectures on the various activities of each department as it unfolds.

At the end, students usually have a reflection and an evaluation process to examine the depth of skills acquired.

1.4 Objectives Of Internship

The following are some of the objectives of industrial training.

1.To allow students to get acquainted to the procedures of business of most organizations.

2.To provide students with preliminary work experience that can prepare them for future careers.

3.To allow students to apply theoretical knowledge acquired during their University study to practice.

4.To serve the purpose of pre-orientation to the choice of specialization while permitting students to establish   contacts in business society.

5.To improve their skills that will help them in the future to find a job or create one.

1.4 Importance Of Internship

1.4.1 To Students

-Internship helps the students to become more mature and confident of their own capabilities, develop personal skills by gaining professional skills.

-Internship also offers students the opportunity to work in career     related or professional environment.

-It also gives students a broad knowledge of the various careers available in life.

-Students are able to enhance classroom experience and further develop and practice the required skills to solve emerging business problems.

-It also helps make classroom learning more interesting.

-Again it helps develop job search skills.

1.4.2 To Employer

-Internship gives employers access to qualified candidates or potential employees.

-Furthermore, interns also contribute new ideas to work place.

-Again, it reduces training cost on the employer.

-Internship helps the employer to evaluate the student for potential full time employment.

-Scheduling can be flexible to meet the employers’ need for workers.

1.4.3 To the Department/University

-Internship strengthens the ties between the University and the community. In line with this, the University works collaboratively to satisfy the intellectual need of the community in general and the employer in particular.

-Make transfer out process easier for students. In this way students having the University get acquainted to the work environment without difficulties.

-Curriculum can benefit through feedback from employers. Feedback helps the department/University to evaluate the quality of courses to ensure that they meet the need of the job market.

PRESENTATION OF BPTCCUL

In 1968, some telecommunications technicians of the automatic telephone exchange in Buea felt the need to put money away from a raining day. They did not know how to operate a real banking system so they invented savings techniques by creating a “njangi” group which did not prove very efficient.

The idea or transforming this njangi group into more efficient and reliable financial house – the credit Union, was brought about by Mr. J.M Agbor who just returned from a trade union meeting in Nigeria and Mr. Elad or the automatic telephone exchange. This idea was nurtured and hatched in November 1971 when this small njangi group was given the authorization to effectively launch its operational activities as a credit union and was christened The Buea PT Credit Union.

As the new monetary union gathered steam, there was the need to elect it pioneer executive consequently; Mr. J.M Agbor was elected the pioneer chairman, Mr. Njoh Gabriel, The Secretary General, Mr. Elad the Treasurer. As the new executive diligently carried out their benevolent duties, the union drew the attention of top management of post and telecommunication like directors and chief of services, who also joined the credit union and provided office space and furniture’s for the union to forge ahead.

In 1978, like little drops of rain which make up the mighty ocean, its capital rose to about 14 million francs CFA solely managed by telecommunication technicians.

In order not to make it a solely PT affair, the Buea PT credit Union opened its portals to the public and other government departments in 1978. By this time, its capital had grown to a comfortable position of 200 million francs CFA. That was big money at that time!

Taking up a post of responsibility as a board member was benevolent and elections to any post were organized during an annual General assembly (AGM)

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