Varsity dons have called on higher education institutions to develop curricula with industry stakeholders to address the persistent skills mismatch between university education and the evolving demands of the job market.
Speaking during the 13th Academia Public-Private Partnership Forum (APPPF), organized by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the dons led by Dr. Vincent Gaitho, Chair of the Education Sector at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Chairman of the University Council at Mount Kenya University, emphasized the need for higher education institutions to develop curricula in direct collaboration with industry stakeholders.
The 13th APPPF 2025 seeks to delve into sustainable growth in East Africa in the context of a competitive world.
They noted that universities should be at the forefront to disrupt the norm and trigger EA based solutions. Furthermore, academic industry collaboration should be superseded by intra and inter-academia sector collaboration as a panacea for sustainability.
“One of the biggest pain points in academia-industry collaboration is program relevance,” Dr. Gaitho noted.
“Do we develop our programs in isolation, or do we actively involve the industry? Universities must serve as solution providers to businesses and employers, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the job market,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of universities engaging industry professionals in curriculum development, research supervision, and mentorship.
“There are many highly qualified experts in the industry, including PhD holders, who can contribute significantly to academic training. We need to involve them to make education more practical and aligned with real-world demands,” he added.
Challenges in Academia-Industry Collaboration
Eng. Kazawadi Papius, President of the Federation of Africa Engineering Organizations (FAEO), highlighted the absence of a standardized framework for academia-industry partnerships as a major challenge.
“If there is no well-established framework to guide how academia and industry should collaborate, there will always be a disconnect,” he stated.
“This lack of coordination leads to fragmentation, preventing innovative solutions from reaching businesses.”
He noted that while academic institutions produce great innovations, there is often limited engagement from industry players, particularly small and medium enterprises, to commercialize these ideas.
Bridging the Skills Gap and Enhancing Practical Training
Dr. Gaitho stressed the need for universities to shift their focus from theoretical research to practical, industry-driven studies to solve real industry problems.
He called for increased collaboration between universities and businesses to ensure research leads to innovation, new products, and job creation.
Moreover, he underscored the importance of equipping students with soft skills such as leadership, communication, and patience, which are essential in the workplace.
“Technical skills alone are not enough. Graduates need to develop the right work ethic, adaptability, and problem- solving abilities to thrive in the industry; on the other hand, the employers also need to adapt to the new generation who are raised with different beliefs and behaviors,” he stated.
MKU’s presentation at the African Public-Private Partnerships Forum 2025 in Kigali focused on how universities can promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) initiative.
As a long-standing UNAI member, MKU previously served as the SDG 10 Hub on Reduced Inequalities (2021–2024) and has now been selected as the SDG 9 Hub Chair (2025–2027), emphasizing Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
