The European Union has invested about 400,000 Euros in the Developing Employability Skills in Accounting Education (DESIRED) project that aims to equip accountants with job-ready skills for the employment market. The project was launched on Tuesday afternoon at Mat Abacus.
The project is being implemented by Mat Abacuss, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), as well as other leading universities in Uganda, Nigeria, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The project brings together universities from Uganda, Nigeria, Portugal, and the Netherlands to integrate Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) into accounting education.
Prof. Twaha Kawaasa, the project chair, says the project is developing pedagogical methods for delivering training to ensure that accountants coming out of the training stations are work-ready.
Assoc. Prof Hellen Nalukenge, deputy dean, Faculty of Commerce, said the project will enhance the employability of accountants and equip them with the necessary skills to improve their value.
“We believe this project will be very beneficial in enhancing the employability of accounting students. It is going to have a number of elements: internship, mentorship, and a number of practical elements,” she said, adding, “Employers have been complaining that our graduates lack soft skills, and this project will fill that gap. It is going to have a framework that will be used by other universities.”
Ayeza Mutegeki, a project student, said the project will bring them closer to employers and equip them with the expertise for the job market.
“The project will be very beneficial to every single accounting student because of the kind of benefits it provides, in that it integrates work and study. The most common problem we have as students is that we don’t have jobs, and it is because we don’t have the expertise. Yes, we have studied them, but the reality is that in the workplace, it is not the same scenario. This project will change the course of accounting students and enhance their education and work standards,” she said.
The project will ensure graduates are equipped with job-ready skills, reduce youth unemployment, strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, and empower young professionals driving national growth. It will be implemented over two years.
