Universities have been advised to incorporate specialised skills training into their curricula to produce more employable graduates.This is contained in a research report conducted to establish the university degrees that can ensure the greatest chance of employability for Rwandan graduates. The survey was presented to Kepler, an organisation that guides vulnerable Rwandan tertiary students through American online degrees.The study, that involved both qualitative and quantitative research, came up with three main suggestions to boost Rwandan education and ensure that Rwandan graduates find jobs after graduating.These, according to Brandon Finn, a researcher from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, include; an improvement in the soft skills of graduates entering the job market; staggered internships throughout the student’s studies, and either a focus on applied science/ICT; or incorporating a specialised skill into a more general degree.In a research paper titled: ‘The Relationship between Tertiary Education and Employability in Rwanda’, Finn elaborated that by ‘soft skills’ he meant communication, presentation, public speaking and networking, among others.“I discovered that there was a gap between university and industry. The internships, together with soft skill workshops, would help bridge this gap,” Finn said.The staggered internship proposal could possibly comprise two weeks in the first year of study, three weeks in second year and one month in the final year, said Finn.“This would ensure that when a student enters the job market, they have the required experience,” he added.In terms of skills specialisation, Finn suggested that students studying general degrees such as Business Administration, take on more specific subjects to give them the competitive edge. “A Public Relations graduate with skills in web design stands a better chance of being employed,” Finn said.Melanie Chuen, the chief operating officer of Kepler, lauded the proposals.“Brandon has shown us how to balance a programme like Business Administration while still giving our students specific skills,” Chuen said.Kepler currently supports 50 students that made it through a highly competitive selection process.
