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East African universities vow to collaborate with employers to help students learn necessary skills
Uwajeneza Donatha
Mar 14, 2025 - 13:14
The East African Universities Council (IUCEAC) has launched its 13th conference, bringing together various people from universities and higher learning institutions, researchers, industries, and others. The aim is to discuss how graduates from universities can go for the job market with the necessary skills required by employers.
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This conference, now in its 13th edition, is focused on exploring the collaboration between universities and higher learning institutions in East Africa and industry employers in providing students with the education they need.
Dr. Edward Kadozi, the Director General of the National Higher Education and University Council (HEC), stated that this collaboration will also foster innovation. He said, "It will bring about innovations that create jobs. These innovations will ensure that universities in East Africa work together with private sector businesses to enhance the capacity of students in these universities, enabling them to develop innovative solutions that address the problems of the population."
Prof. Callixte Kabera, the Director of East African University Rwanda, emphasized that such collaboration is crucial as it yields positive results when universities and employers join forces.
He said, "This collaboration ensures that what a student learns in the classroom is also given an opportunity to be applied when they start working for employers who are experts in their fields, which results in tangible outcomes."
Dr. Gaspard Banyankimbona, the Executive Secretary of the East African Universities Council (IUCEAC), mentioned that this partnership is highly desired because it will be beneficial for economic development. He stated, "The goal of this conference is to focus on innovation and consider what benefits our youth, and it will contribute to the development of our economy. What we expect from this collaboration, which we always desire between universities, private sector businesses, and the government, is that the labor market, including industries and employers, will solve the problem they always raise — that the people entering the workforce have skills that don't align with what industries need. On the other hand, universities often claim that the issue is the lack of support from industries to help those with talent, which would benefit the economy. This is why we need this collaboration — to open up the partnership for the benefit of the East African community."
This conference comes at a time when private sector companies, both in Rwanda and the East African region, have been criticizing graduates from higher education institutions and universities for lacking sufficient knowledge in the fields they studied. This is why the East African Universities Council (IUCEAC) has chosen collaboration as a solution to address these issues.
Author: Vestine Umurerwa / translated by GAKUBA Felix Abduljabar
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