Graduates from the University of Nairobi (UoN) may not be able to tarmac for long if the leading institution of higher learning’s goal to connect its students to jobs comes to fruition.
Speaking during the Dean’s Induction in Naivasha on Wednesday, August 31, UoN Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama indicated that the university was transforming its academic strategy to become a more human-centeric institution.
He continued by saying that the institution’s operations will be centered on the welfare of the students and that it was crucial to effortlessly integrate them into the job market.
The university will accomplish this by employing post-graduate students as part time lecturers and connecting the remaining students to attachment and internship opportunities.
The University must integrate students in all our activities. They must be mentored and equipped with entrepreneurship and innovation skills. Today we must give beyond what is offered in classroom
“Students should be integrated in the job market through attachments and internships. The University will hire post graduate students as part time in future. Part-timers should be people who have compassion for students,” explained Kiama.
He further noted that UoN management was still carrying out its reforms with people reforms top of the agenda.
The VC explained that governance reforms, which were noisy, are complete as well as reforms in data, finance and curriculum sectors.
“UoN needs to offer leadership to the Kenyan people, to give hope and faith to the Kenyan people with a strong sense of patriotism.
“It is a moral calling that the University will not tire to offer University of Nairobi values are aligned to the National values and principals,” he added.
Every year, UoN produces over 13,000 graduates who enter the flooded market with a rising unemployment rate.
According to a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the rate of unemployment in Kenya reached its highest point in 2020 and doubled in just three months
In April, May, and June of 2020, there were 1,841,918 unemployed Kenyans, an increase from the 961,666 registered in the first quarter.
