The biggest challenge facing both the country and the university is the increasing number of unemployed youths who have acquired higher education.

Speaking on Monday 6th June, 2011 during a media briefing held at Makerere University Main Building, Council room, the university’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba revealed that the university intends to impart vocational skills to its jobless graduates. He said that, “Graduates can engage in vocational jobs better than non-graduates and that is why it is important to train and impart them with the required skills.”

“By provision of vocational training to jobless graduates, Makerere will help them get self employed since they will be in a better position to start their own businesses or engage in providing services in sectors such as tourism, leisure and hospitality”, said Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba. Besides the training by AIESEC, some of the training to be done in Uganda will include; machine repair and maintenance, microfinance, manufacturing, road maintenance and food processing.

As observed, it’s only the skilled graduates that can start up their own businesses and with that, Makerere University will work with companies and government to create skilled graduates. The government shall therefore, in collaboration with Makerere University, set up regional incubation facilities that will be used for business incubation. It’s worth mentioning that many successful spin-off private companies have been registered by former students of the University incubations projects.

Upon completion of the vocational training, with the skills acquired, graduates can work in the relevant sectors. Prof. Baryamureeba gave an example of graduates working in beauty saloons. Although people may argue that the job is not fit for graduates, the Vice Chancellor argued that graduates doing vocational jobs will stand a chance of attaining better higher profile clients such as Ministers. The earnings the students get will help sustain them and make them useful to the country in their participation to nation building.

With the provision of quality education the country will therefore be in a better position of developing its economy. Knowledge is power, and with Institutions like Makerere in place, a powerful country shall be revived.

Article by Grace K. Magare, Intern, Public Relations Office, Makerere University

The biggest challenge facing both the country and the university is the increasing number of unemployed youths who have acquired higher education.

Speaking on Monday 6th June, 2011 during a media briefing held at Makerere University Main Building, Council room, the university’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba revealed that the university intends to impart vocational skills to its jobless graduates. He said that, “Graduates can engage in vocational jobs better than non-graduates and that is why it is important to train and impart them with the required skills.”

“By provision of vocational training to jobless graduates, Makerere will help them get self employed since they will be in a better position to start their own businesses or engage in providing services in sectors such as tourism, leisure and hospitality”, said Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba. Besides the training by AIESEC, some of the training to be done in Uganda will include; machine repair and maintenance, microfinance, manufacturing, road maintenance and food processing.

As observed, it’s only the skilled graduates that can start up their own businesses and with that, Makerere University will work with companies and government to create skilled graduates. The government shall therefore, in collaboration with Makerere University, set up regional incubation facilities that will be used for business incubation. It’s worth mentioning that many successful spin-off private companies have been registered by former students of the University incubations projects.

Upon completion of the vocational training, with the skills acquired, graduates can work in the relevant sectors. Prof. Baryamureeba gave an example of graduates working in beauty saloons. Although people may argue that the job is not fit for graduates, the Vice Chancellor argued that graduates doing vocational jobs will stand a chance of attaining better higher profile clients such as Ministers. The earnings the students get will help sustain them and make them useful to the country in their participation to nation building.

With the provision of quality education the country will therefore be in a better position of developing its economy. Knowledge is power, and with Institutions like Makerere in place, a powerful country shall be revived.

Article by Grace K. Magare, Intern, Public Relations Office, Makerere University