Issue

Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): Journal of Higher Education in Africa

7 - Challenges Faced by Heads of Academic Departments in Reforming University Curricula to Promote Graduate Employability

https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6233
Sophia Geera
East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, Uganda
David Onen
East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, Uganda

Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): Journal of Higher Education in Africa

Abstract

This article examines the roles played by heads of academic departments (HoDs) and the challenges they face in reforming their units’ curricula to promote graduate employability in a university college in Uganda. The study arose because of persistent complaints by employers and other stakeholders about the lack of employable skills among university graduates in the country, in spite of several curricular reviews having taken place in the institution. Using the qualitative approach, data was collected from four purposively selected HoDs through in-depth interviews. The study’s results showed, among others, that the participants had different understandings of what graduate employability meant: while some conceptualised it as the possession of employable skills by graduates, others viewed it as the ability of a university student to complete his/ her study programme and obtain gainful employment. Second, the participants revealed that they often enabled the revision of the curricula to promote graduate employability, by involving and motivating stakeholders in curricular reviews, offering effective leadership, and by providing requisite information and support to their staff during curriculum review and development. Finally, the study participants reported facing several challenges in revising the curricula of their units, including limited co-operation by stakeholders, rapidly changing societal needs and a shortage of funds to aid the process of curriculum review and development.

Keywords

heads of department graduate employability reforming curricula university
Sophia Geera, & David Onen. (2026). 7 - Challenges Faced by Heads of Academic Departments in Reforming University Curricula to Promote Graduate Employability. Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6233
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. Bagarukayo, E., Ssentamu, N. P., Mayisela, T. and Brown, C., 2016, Activity Theory as a Lens to Understand How Facebook Develops Knowledge Application Skills, International Journal of Education and Development, Vol. 12, No. 3.
  2. Bamwesiga, P. M., 2013, A Conceptual Understanding of Employability: The Em-ployers’ View in Rwanda, Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 40–53 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7227/JACE.19.1.4).
  3. Beaumont, E., Gedye, S. and Richardson, S., 2016, ‘Am I Employable?’: Under-standing Students’ Employability Confidence And Their Perceived Barriers To Gaining Employment, Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, Vol. 19, pp. 1–9 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2016.06.001).
  4. Berdrow, I., 2010, King Among Kings: Understanding the Roles and Respon-sibilities of a Departmental Chair in Higher Education, Educational Man-agement, Administration and Leadership, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 499–514 (doi: 10.1177/1741143210368146).
  5. Bozeman, B., Fay, D., and Gaughan, M., 2013, Power to Do ... What? Department Heads’ Decision Autonomy and Strategic Priorities, Research in Higher Education, Vol. 54, No. 3 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/23471101).
  6. Cai, Y., 2013, Graduate Employability: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Employers’ Perceptions, Higher Education, Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 457–469 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/23470832).
  7. Chinyamurundi, W., 2016, Middle Manager Role and Contribution Towards the Competitive Intelligence Process: A Case of Irish Subsidiaries, South African Journal of Information Management, Vol. 18, No. 2, p. 727 (http://dx.doi. org/10.4102/ sajim. v18i2.727).
  8. Day, C., 1984, The Role of a Head of Department in Staff Development, Journal of In-Service Education, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 30–35 (doi: 10.1080/0305763840100207).
  9. Edet, A. O., and Ekpoh, U. I., 2017, Administrative Challenges of Academic Heads of Department in Tertiary Institutions in Cross River State, Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 129–135.
  10. Forrier, A., and Sels, L., 2003, The Concept of Employability: A Complex Mosaic, International. Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 102–124 (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228364905_).
  11. Gaubatz, J. A., and Ensminger, D. C., 2017, Department Chairs as Change Agents: Leading Change in Resistant Environments, Educational Management Administration and Leadership, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 141–163 (doi: 10.1177/1741143215587307).
  12. Gaya, H. J., and Smith, E. E., 2016, Developing a Qualitative Single Case Study In The Strategic Management Realm: An Appropriate Research Design?, Internation-al Journal of Business Management and Economic Research, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 529–538 (http://www.ijbmer.com/docs/volumes/vol7issue2/ijbmer2016070201).
  13. Guilbert, L., Bernaud, J-L., Gouvernet, B., and Rossier, J., 2015, Employability: Review and Research Prospects, International Journal of Education Vocational Guidance (doi: 10.1007/s10775-015-9288-4).
  14. Hess, J. A., 2013, The Risks and Rewards of Serving as a Department Chair, Communication Faculty Publication, Vol.13 (http://ecommons.udayton.edu/ cmm_fac_pub/13).
  15. Jones, D. G., 2011, Academic Leadership and Departmental Headship in Turbulent Times, Tertiary Education and Management, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 279–28 (doi:1 0.1080/13583883.2011.605906).
  16. Jowi, J. O., 2011, Deans in Kenyan Universities: Their Leadership Styles and Im-pacts on Staff Commitment, Doctoral dissertation submitted to the University of Twente (doi:10.3990/1.9789036545570).
  17. Kasozi, A. B. K., 2015, Rethinking of our Education System: Part 1, Higher Education Project, Kampala: Makerere University.
  18. Kinash, S., and Crane, L., 2015, Enhancing Graduate Employability of the 21st Century Learner, Proceedings of the International Mobile Learning Festival 2015 (http://epublications.bond.edu.au/fsd_papers/99).
  19. Klar, H. W., 2012, Fostering Department Chair Instructional Leadership Capacity: Laying the Groundwork for Distributed Instructional Leadership, International Journal of Leadership in Education, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 175–197 (Doi:10.1080/ 13603124.2011.577910).
  20. Lumpkin, A., 2004, Enhancing the Effectiveness of Department Chairs, Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Vol. 75, No. 9, pp. 44–48 (Doi: 10.1080/07303084.2004.10607300).
  21. Matsouka, K., and Mihail, D. M., 2016, Graduates’ Employability: What Do Graduates and Employers Think?, Industry and Higher Education, Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 321–326 (Doi: 10.1177/095042221666371).
  22. Onen, D., 2016, Institutional Planning in The Context of Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects, International Journal of Education and Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 33–44.
  23. Osmani, M., Weerakkody, V., Hindi, N., and Eldabi, T., 2019, Graduates Em-ployability Skills: A Review of Literature Against Market Demand, Journal of Education for Business (doi:1080/08832323.2018.1545629).
  24. Otara, A., 2015, Academic Dean and The Challenges of Meeting Changing Expec-tations Within a Competitive Higher Environment In Africa, Creative Education, Vol. 6, pp. 134–143 (http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ce.2015.62012).
  25. Patton, M. Q., 2001, Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, 2nd ed., Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  26. Penuel, W. R., Phillips, R. S. and Harris, C. J., 2014, Analysing Teacher’s Curriculum Implementation from Integrality and Actor-Oriented Perspectives, Journal of Curriculum Studies, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 751–777 (Doi: 10.1080/00220272. 2014.92.1841).
  27. Römgens, I., Scoupe, R., and Beausaert, S., 2019, Unraveling the Concept of Em-ployability, Bringing Together Research on Employability in Higher Education and the Workplace, Studies in Higher Education, Vol. 45, No. 12, pp. 2588–2603 (doi: 10.1080/03075079.2019.1623770).
  28. Rothwell, A., Herbert, I., and Rothwell, F., 2008, Self-Perceived Employability: Construction and Initial Validation of a Scale For University Students, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Vol. 73, pp. 1–12 (doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2007.12.001).
  29. Saldana, J., 2009, The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers, London, UK: Sage Publications.
  30. Seale, O., and Cross, M., 2015, Leading and Managing in Complexity: The Case of South African Deans, Studies in Higher Education, Vol. 41, No. 8, pp. 1–19 (doi: 10.1080/03075079.2014.988705).
  31. Ssekamwa, J. C., 2000, History and Development of Education in Uganda, Kampala: Fountain Publishers Ltd.
  32. Ssempebwa, J., 2008, Graduate Unemployment in Uganda: Socio-Economic Factors Exonerating University Training, International Journal of Education Management, Vol. 5, pp. 105–116 (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279488429).
  33. Tomlinson, M., 2012, Graduate Employability: A Review of Conceptual and Em-pirical Themes, Higher Education Policy, Vol. 25, pp. 407–431 (Doi: 10.1057/ hep.2011.26).
  34. Uganda Government, 2014, Uganda’s Employment Challenge: An Evaluation of Government’s Strategy (https://ecduganda.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/mofped_lily_employment-challenge.pdf.)
  35. Yorke, M., 2006, Employability in Higher Education: What it is – What it is not, York: Higher Education Academy.
  36. Yorke, M., and Knight, P. T., 2004, Embedding Employability into the Curriculum, York: Higher Education Academy.
Read More
Author biographies is not available.
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 0 Download : 0