Articles · Vol. 1 No. 1 (2003): Journal of Higher Education in Africa · Pages 57-77

3 - Failed or Self-Hindering Prophecies? Employment Experiences of African Graduates in the 1990s

Alexis-Michel Mugabushaka, Ulrich Teichler  & Harald Schomburg

  • Alexis-Michel Mugabushaka
    Alexis-Michel Mugabushaka
    Alexis-Michel Mugabushaka is a Research Associate at the Center for Research on Higher Education and Work, University of Kassel, Germany. E-mail: mugabo@hochschulforschung.uni-kassel.de.
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  • Ulrich Teichler
    Ulrich Teichler
    Ulrich Teichler is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Research on Higher Education and Work, University of Kassel, Germany. E-mail: teichler@hochschulforschung.unikassel.de.
    Their articles →
  • Harald Schomburg
    Harald Schomburg
    Harald Schomburg is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Research on Higher Education and Work, University of Kassel, Germany. Email: schomburg@hochschulforschung.uni-kassel.de.
    Their articles →
Vol. 1 · 2003 No. 1 Journal of Higher Education in Africa JHEA

Abstract

The 1980s brought about sweeping and far-reaching structural changes in many African countries, which greatly affected the higher education sector. Though, the task of training the professional and political elite had been achieved in the previ- ous decades, early reforms now faced new challenges. Concerns were raised that, without substantial new reforms, there may be a mismatch between higher educa- tion and the labor market, leading to massive unemployment among graduates, a tedious transition process from higher education to the labour market, and the un- deremployment of highly skilled laborers in low-skill jobs. This article uses survey data, conducted in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda to exam- ine the basis of such concerns.

The 1980s brought about sweeping and far-reaching structural changes in many African countries, which greatly affected the higher education sector. Though, the task of training the professional and political elite had been achieved in the previ- ous decades, early reforms now faced new challenges. Concerns were raised that, without substantial new reforms, there may be a mismatch between higher educa- tion and the labor market, leading to massive unemployment among graduates, a tedious transition process from higher education to the labour market, and the un- deremployment of highly skilled laborers in low-skill jobs. This article uses survey data, conducted in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda to exam- ine the basis of such concerns.

 

Keywords

Failed or Self-Hindering Enugu and Anambra, Furthermore,

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Author Biographies

  • Alexis-Michel Mugabushaka

    Alexis-Michel Mugabushaka is a Research Associate at the Center for Research on Higher Education and Work, University of Kassel, Germany. E-mail: mugabo@hochschulforschung.uni-kassel.de.

  • Ulrich Teichler

    Ulrich Teichler is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Research on Higher Education and Work, University of Kassel, Germany. E-mail: teichler@hochschulforschung.unikassel.de.

  • Harald Schomburg

    Harald Schomburg is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Research on Higher Education and
    Work, University of Kassel, Germany. Email: schomburg@hochschulforschung.uni-kassel.de.

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