Universities Urged to Review Curriculum to Meet Job Market Needs

Key Points:

• Skills gap: There’s a significant mismatch between university graduates’ skills and industry needs.
• Industry collaboration: Universities and industries must work together to develop relevant curricula.
• Curriculum update: Universities should reassess and update their programs to meet job market demands.
• New programs: Zetech University’s new postgraduate programs aim to address the skills gap.

Kiambu County Deputy Governor Rosemary Kirika has called on universities to align their curricula with the evolving job market to address a widening skills gap.

Speaking at the launch of three new postgraduate programs at Zetech University Mangu campus, Kirika emphasized the need for graduates with expertise in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital marketing.

“There’s a significant mismatch between what universities are teaching and what the industry requires,” she said, underscoring the importance of collaboration between academia and industry to shape the future workforce.

Professor Alice Njuguna, Zetech University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, echoed Kirika’s sentiments, stating that the university’s new programs are a direct response to industry demands. “We identify market needs, collaborate with industry experts, and adhere to international standards to develop relevant courses,” Njuguna explained.

The newly launched programs, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science, Master of Science in Computer Science, and Master of Science in Information Technology, have been approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE).