Study Objectives

The issue of graduates’ employability, career patterns, and progression in the labour market has gained particular importance on the higher education agenda for Africa. Enhancing labour and skills supply by addressing structural weaknesses in the higher agricultural education and training systems and by tackling youth and long-term unemployment has always been a guiding element for the design and implementation of the RUFORUM graduate funding support mechanisms. The aim of this tracer study was to update information about the experiences of graduates supported under various graduate study support programmes in the labour market after completing their studies; thereby, helping RUFORUM and its stakeholders in taking informed decisions in relation to the transition from education to employment. The study went beyond examining the formal qualifications graduates had obtained and inquired about their personal assessments, their satisfaction with their experiences on their job, and their judgement about the relevance of their qualification.

Methodology

Through the use of an online questionnaire, the onetime cross-sectional study collected data about the graduates by different socioeconomic, study and employment related characteristics. The scope of variables and thematic blocs covered included: employment and income; details on study programs and context factors such as age, gender and civil status; further education and job prospects; details of the jobs and context factors such as family life and mobility; and alternative career paths and the perceptions of graduates of their achievements.

The initial target population was all students who completed their studies with RUFORUM support between the years 2004 and 2020. From a total population of 2,494 students in the RUFORUM Information Management System (RIMS) administrative data, of whom 1,885 had graduated, an effective sample of 1,310 respondents was obtained and served with the online questionnaire. The number that responded was 490, giving a response rate of 37.4% – with good representation of cohort of admission/graduation, gender, institution of study and nationality. A response rate of 30-40% is regarded as credible to enable generalised conclusions.

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