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

Sophia Geera; David Onen

doi:10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6233

Numéro

Vol. 21 No 1 (2023): Revue de l’enseignement supérieur en Afrique

Issue Published : mai 4, 2026

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

Revue de l’enseignement supérieur en Afrique, Vol. 21 No 1 (2023): Revue de l’enseignement supérieur en Afrique
Article Published : mai 4, 2026

Résumé

Cet article examine les rôles des chefs de départements universitaires et les défis auxquels ils sont confrontés dans la réforme des programmes de leurs unités afin de promouvoir l’employabilité des diplômés dans un collège universitaire d’Ouganda. L’étude est née à la suite de plaintes persistantes d’employeurs et autres parties prenantes quant au manque de compétences employables chez les diplômés de l’enseignement supérieur du pays, malgré plusieurs révisions de programmes de l’établissement. Par l’approche qualitative, des données ont été recueillies auprès de quatre chefs de départements sélectionnés à dessein par le biais d’entretiens approfondis. Les résultats de l’étude ont montré, entre autres, que les participants avaient des compréhensions différentes de ce que signifiait l’employabilité des diplômés : tandis que certains la conceptualisaient comme la possession par les diplômés,de compétences employables, d’autres y voyaient la capacité d’un étudiant à terminer son programme d’études universitaires et à obtenir un emploi rémunéré. Deuxièmement, les participants ont révélé qu’ils ont souvent permis la révision de programmes d’études pour promouvoir l’employabilité des diplômés, en impliquant et en motivant les parties prenantes dans les révisions des programmes, en offrant un leadership efficace et en fournissant les informations et le soutien nécessaires à leur personnel lors de la révision et de l’élaboration des programmes. Enfin, les participants à l’étude ont déclaré faire face à plusieurs défis à l’occasion de la révision de programmes de leurs unités, notamment une coopération limitée des parties prenantes, des besoins sociétaux en évolution rapide et un manque de fonds de facilitation du processus de révision et de développement de programmes.

Mots-clés

chefs de département employabilité des diplômés réforme des cursus université

Sophia Geera, & David Onen. (2026). 7 - Challenges Faced by Heads of Academic Departments in Reforming University Curricula to Promote Graduate Employability. Revue De l’enseignement supérieur En Afrique, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6233

Télécharger la référence bibliographique

Les références

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.
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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.
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_).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
Kasozi, A. B. K., 2015, Rethinking of our Education System: Part 1, Higher Education Project, Kampala: Makerere University.
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).
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).
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).
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).
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.
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).
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).
Patton, M. Q., 2001, Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, 2nd ed., Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
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).
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).
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).
Saldana, J., 2009, The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers, London, UK: Sage Publications.
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).
Ssekamwa, J. C., 2000, History and Development of Education in Uganda, Kampala: Fountain Publishers Ltd.
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).
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).
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.)
Yorke, M., 2006, Employability in Higher Education: What it is – What it is not, York: Higher Education Academy.
Yorke, M., and Knight, P. T., 2004, Embedding Employability into the Curriculum, York: Higher Education Academy.

Les références

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.

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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.

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_).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

Kasozi, A. B. K., 2015, Rethinking of our Education System: Part 1, Higher Education Project, Kampala: Makerere University.

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).

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).

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).

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).

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.

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).

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).

Patton, M. Q., 2001, Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, 2nd ed., Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

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).

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).

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).

Saldana, J., 2009, The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers, London, UK: Sage Publications.

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).

Ssekamwa, J. C., 2000, History and Development of Education in Uganda, Kampala: Fountain Publishers Ltd.

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).

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).

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.)

Yorke, M., 2006, Employability in Higher Education: What it is – What it is not, York: Higher Education Academy.

Yorke, M., and Knight, P. T., 2004, Embedding Employability into the Curriculum, York: Higher Education Academy.