Over 8,000 young men and women graduated last week, but not many of them will have the opportunity to become employed.

They include 6,540 bachelor’s degree graduates and 510 PHD holders. They joined another cluster of 1,500 bachelor’s degree holders who graduated from the University of Kigali in July.

The unemployment rate of university graduates in the country currently stands at 16.7 per cent, which is the highest rate faced by any employable group, according to the Rwanda Institute of Research and Statistics.

The rate is a few points lower than the country’s general unemployment rate of 17.3 per cent.

Many employers require experience for the job vacancies they advertise — a vital qualification that many graduates often lack.

Theories

“For the four years I was in university, we relied heavily on theories and lab work but our university did not take us out in the workplace or to co-operatives to understand the job market,” said Eric Nshimiyimana, an Agribusiness graduate from the College of Agriculture, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine.

University graduates who opt for vocational training to supplement their degrees, tend to be favoured by employers. For ex-ample, Philbert Bahati, a Computer Engineering graduate from the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, was employed even before he graduated because he had vocational training in computer skills.

In order to find employment for the increasing number of graduates, the government set a target of 200,000 jobs annually from the current 146,000. East Africa faces a major challenge of high unemployment rates especially among the youth, according to a report by the United Nations.

“Finding employment for the youth would be a major boost for the region’s economies. Many young people are desperate due to lack of opportunities and want to migrate or take part in illegal activities,” said Ismail Buchanan, a researcher and senior lecturer at the University of Rwanda, adding, “The education systems in the region must emphasise job creation.

Career guidance

A university graduate also needs career guidance on skills that are relevant,” he added.

According to Emmanuel Muvunyi, the executive director of the Higher Education Council, industrial attachments are insufficient and are not prioritised by universities and the job market.

“There are weaknesses on the side of universities and the job industry. The time given to the practical aspect of their education is not sufficient and the structuring is weak,”said Mr Muvunyi. He added that students attached to some corporate companies are often made to perform duties that are incompatible with their studies.

In order to improve quality of graduates, the Higher Learning Council tasked universities with putting in place offices to handle industrial attachments, sign agreements with corporate companies to ensure that students are closely monitored and evaluated.