‘African universities must address unemployment’
The Secretary General of the Association of African Universities (AAU), Prof. Etienne Ehile, has urged African universities to come up with strategies to address the growing problems of unemployment and lack of skills, education and ability to get jobs on the continent.
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He said Africa could not stand the impact of another Arab Spring which could occur as a result of the frustrations of a harassed unemployed graduate.
In a speech to commemorate this year’s African University Day observed at the All Nations University College in Koforidua, Prof Ehile said the two main responsibilities of African universities were to run programmes that were relevant to their countries’ needs and provide the necessary skills for the students to facilitate their employment.
“However, there seems to be a mismatch between the educational provisions in Africa and the needs of the labour market, resulting in the twin problems of graduate unemployment and graduate unemployability,” he said.
He made reference to the formation of the Unemployed Graduates Association of Ghana and said the problem of unemployment cuts across the entire continent.
Prof Ehile said there was the need for a more robust higher educational system which provide African solutions to African challenges.
“A new vision has emerged that recognises that higher education and development must go hand in hand and that Africa’s ability to generate and harness knowledge is critical to advancement.
“This awareness accompanies and embraces public policy reforms, market principles and good governance.
“Many of our university leaders have begun to rethink the missions and guide the transformation of their institutions. Some are strengthening basic research and training in science and technology, developing new strategies that use technology for communication, distance learning and networking and are encouraging gender mainstreaming in their curriculum and training,” he said.
He said the AAU would help sustain the dynamic renewal now underway and promote best policies in the continent’s universities.
Present at the ceremony were the Vice-President in charge of Students Affairs at the All Nations University, Rt Rev Dr Emmanuel Twum-Baah, and the co-Founder of the institution, Rev Rose Donkor.