KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Twenty-one year old University of Technology (UTech) student Jase-Omeileo West topped the 15 candidates who participated in the National Commercial Bank’s (NCB) inaugural Innovation Internship Programme this year.

The intensive five-week programme, which ran from June 20 to July 22, was open to local and international full-time tertiary undergraduates who were invited to make presentations on customer service and other banking solutions.

The interns, who were drawn from various backgrounds, participated in various activities at NCB’s Trafalgar Road Innovation Lab in New Kingston.

These included ideation sessions aimed at generating solutions to improve customer experience and efficiency in the financial services sector.

Among the prizes which Jase-Omeileo and other lucky participants won were trophies and cash awards.

Senior general manager for NCB’s Group Human Resources and Facilities Division, Rickert Allen, indicated that he was impressed with the interns’ output. He noted that the programme surpassed NCB’s expectations, generating over 400 ideas.

 “The programme allowed us to conceptualise the reshaping of our services through technology and invention while providing the opportunity for students to learn and develop sustainable skills,” he said.

Allen further stated that the programme will help to underpin NCB’s strategic direction “to design products and services, streamline operations, and move the organisation towards utilising technology to make financial transactions easier, more convenient and more customer-centric”.

He explained that the programme was originally scheduled for four weeks, but was extended by an additional week following the success recorded during the initial period.

Allen pointed out that NCB is already preparing for the initiative’s renewal in 2017, even as the bank develops the ideas emerging from this year’s programme.  

Jase-Omeileo said that the internship programme was an exciting and fun-filled experience, pointing out that “it did not really feel like work for the most part”.

Pointing out that he has benefited significantly, he encouraged others who are given the opportunity to participate to take up the offer.