Graduate employability in Botswana: challenges and prospects

Abstract

Concerns from employers that tertiary institutions fail to provide graduates with necessary skills have recently become a dominant issue particularly in developing economies. Although literature on the subject of employability and market competitiveness of graduates is abundant and continues to grow, particularly in developed or large European or Asian economies, scholarly works on emerging African economies in general and Botswana in particular remain scarce. This paper examines the challenges and dynamics of graduate unemployability in Botswana. It utilizes the Yorke and Knight (2003)’s USEM model of employability, which consists of four interrelated components: understanding, skills, efficacy beliefs and meta-cognition. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using Explanatory Sequential Mixed ‘Methods’ design. The paper argues that while factors influencing employability of youth particularly university graduates, were mainly structural and institutional, lack of practical skills and mismatch between degree programme content and job requirements led the list. There is not enough demand for knowledge and technology intensive jobs sufficient to absorb graduates from local institutions in Botswana. To enhance work-preparedness and job competencies, work-based learning and entrepreneurial education need to be integrated into the curriculum. University-industry interface that reflects knowledge-intensive collaborations need to be promoted to enhance employability.