Work has always been the next top priority for most fresh graduates in Uganda after all the hurdles they would have gone through during their time of study at campus, as we know it.
Campus Bee has learned, the norm is about to take a new turn as graduates of ICT courses are set to attain further training/education at Uganda Institute of Information and Communication Technology (UICT) before they can finally be rolled out to the job market.
This development was revealed by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT, Ms Aminah Zawedde cited lack of relevant skills amongst many graduates; a factor which has led to high unemployment rate. Speaking at the the inauguration of the sixth governing council of UICT, Ms Zawedde explained that with this extra training after campus, graduates will gain relevant skills which employers are always looking out for.
“Many times we have a gap between what graduates come out with and what is required on the job, so UICT is going to be that bridging the gap to offer these skills. Some of these courses come as one week course, one month and are short courses certificates and diplomas,” Ms Zawedde explained.
Ms Zawedde raised an example of the Law Development Center (LDC) where Law graduates enroll at, to gain more knowledge in the Bar course before they officially execute their profession.
“The lawyers have LDC that is mandatory for students to go to if they want to practice. But since it is a new initiative, it’s not yet mandatory but with time, we plan that it will be mandatory. For instance, for one to work in government you have to have a minimum requirement to certain certificate you are supposed to do to have prepared you for the job,” she said.
UICT is a public tertiary institution established by the Statutory Instrument under the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act specializing in skills-based and middle-level ICT training and skills development.
