Africa has largest gap between private sector and academia-Prof Addai

Research has established that Africa has the least level of collaboration between the private sector and academia.

This has resulted in a large number of graduates from tertiary institutions being ill equipped for the job market or to venture into businesses on their own.

Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Stephen Adei says until the disjoint between Industry and higher education is addressed, the continent would continue to suffer high rates of youth unemployment and poor industrial growth.

Speaking of JoyFm’s super morning show program, Prof Addai observed the educational system in Ghana as well as in many other African countries have become very theoretical. Students have little practical knowledge on the very things they study and there is an obsession with passing exams, instead of developing the human potential.

He wants universities to take steps at reforming the curriculum. There should be consultation with stakeholders of industry and the private sector to be able to produce graduates tailored to the needs of society.

“We at the university we must also involve the industry as much as possible in curricular development, there is also now a lot of teaching the old ways.”

The Professor also called on Universities to rob in lecturers and facilitators from industry to share experiences with students.

He noted with worry, that a National Accreditation Board requirement that a university lecturer must have at least an MPhil qualification, is preventing many experienced people in industry from passing on their knowledge to students.

Professor Stephen Adei called on the government to facilitate the collaboration between the private sector and academia, maintaining it is critical to the success of the key government policy of industrialization.