Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Tanzania has initiated a program to connect students with business leaders who are university graduates. This effort aims to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and practical skills required in the labor market. The initiative is part of the implementation of a directive by the Vice-President to ensure that 10,000 young people acquire skills and work experience every year.
The program was discussed during a meeting between SUA Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Maulid Mwatawala, and business leaders who graduated from the university. The meeting, organized by the Directorate of Internationalisation and Alumni Relations, explored areas of cooperation between SUA and its graduates who own or lead companies. Prof Mwatawala emphasized that the initiative will provide students and graduates with opportunities to gain practical skills and experience in real working environments.
According to Prof Mwatawala, the Vice-President's directive was issued to the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), the regulatory body, to ensure that 10,000 young people acquire skills and work experience every year. He stressed that practical training is necessary to acquire these skills. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor urged CEOs who graduated from SUA to use their positions to give students opportunities to gain practical experience through various projects and activities in their institutions and companies.
The business leaders who attended the meeting toured various projects and activities being implemented by SUA to gain a better understanding of the university's work and identify potential areas of cooperation. During the tour, they were briefed on the implementation of the APOPO project and visited the site where a factory for producing various SUA products, including bottled water and juice, is being constructed. They also visited buildings being constructed under the Higher Education Economic Transformation (HEET) Project.
NMB Bank Head Office Head of Agribusiness, Mr Nsolo Mlozi, who is also a SUA graduate, announced that the bank had set aside 20bn/- to support start-up projects for young people and special groups. Mr Mlozi stated that supporting such projects is important in promoting the national economy while giving graduates opportunities to gain experience in production and business operations.
Mr Mlozi emphasized that start-up projects not only contribute to the national economy but also help graduates gain experience in production and business operations. This aligns with SUA's goal of providing students with practical skills and experience. The university's initiative has received support from its alumni, who are willing to offer opportunities for students to gain practical experience.
The collaboration between SUA and its alumni aims to improve young people's chances of securing employment by bridging the gap between classroom knowledge, practical skills, and work experience. The program is expected to benefit students and graduates by providing them with the necessary skills and experience to compete in the labor market.
Key points
- SUA has initiated a program to connect students with business leaders who are alumni to provide practical skills and experience.
- The program aims to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and practical skills required in the labor market.
- NMB Bank has set aside 20bn/- to support start-up projects for young people and special groups.
