BEYOND THE ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT

 Education is a tool for social transformation. That is why it is one of the most regulated sectors. This is because the quality of education that citizens receive determines the fate of a country. While reviewing the National Council for Higher Education Exhibition catalogue for 2024, I realized that Uganda has over 50 universities and other tertiary institutions. They are all doing a great job in enhancing the potential of students. Indeed most of the leaders that we have today are products of Uganda's good education system.

The main focus of this article is to highlight the fact that the rate of change in the world is outpacing education system. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence(AI) and globalization means that students can not afford to only focus on Uganda's environment. The days when a student focused on reading to pass exams are long gone. Education now has to focus on building critical thinkers who will use their knowledge to address social problems. Luckily Uganda in particular and Africa in general has plenty of challenges that need to be resolved. This means that today's student should not wait to complete their degree to start solving social issues. In fact even employers have shifted focus to the candidate's ability to resolve problems. 

 The reliance on academic transcripts as an indicator of a graduates potential is no longer adequate. This is because marks some times are subjective yet human potential is infinite. There are plenty of successful entrepreneurs who are employing graduates but yet they did not complete university. It is said that most of the successful entrepreneurs in Uganda's business hub (Kikuubo ) are not university graduates but their efforts have played a critical role in enhancing Uganda's economic development.

In his book, After University What Next, Ambrose Kibuuka demystifies why we should take a keen eye on Uganda's education system. There are some graduates who despite having good academic grades on their academic transcripts can not defend them in the real world of work. Others have good grades but fear to start initiatives that will create an impact on society. 

Therefore the focus on attaining an academic transcript should not be the sole focus of a graduate. Education should be an intervention to enable a graduate to discover their personality and enable them to use their skills and knowledge to solve society's pressing challenges in a rapidly changing world.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE OUR EDUCATION

1. Embrace career guidance

2.Develop the habit of asking questions

3.Invest in life long learning

4.Engage industry experts

5.Join industry associations

6.Share what you learn

7.Develop soft skills

8.Volunteer your skills

9.Have a teachable spirit

10.Research the institutions you attend

11.Learn to write 

12. Build your confidence

Education is a powerful tool for social transformation. Without education we live in the dark. But with the rapid rate of change in the world a focus on getting a transcript as a measure of success is missing the point as discussed above.


Phillip Kiryowa

Finance and Leadership Coach(PCC)

+256752615916

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THRIVING AMIDST UNEMPLOYMENT

 Ask any graduate what their worst night mare is and they will inform you that lack of access to a dignified employment opportunity is a big hurdle. Over 70% of Ugandans are below the age of 30 years of age. There are very many reasons why the unemployment rate needs to be addressed. Uganda has over 30 universities and all universities graduate over 300,000 graduates per year yet the formal sector produces on average 70,000 jobs. This mismatch is an indicator of the frustrations that the young people face. It was on media last year when I saw a group of able bodied youths who wanted to beat up staff of a sports betting company for failing to pay for their "Return on Investment" in Bugiri District. Iam not saying that all youths are involved in crime .What am trying to point out is that the probability of a youth without a job being involved in crime is high( after all there is a saying that an idle mind is a devil's workshop). Just this year there was youth who was killed
Read more

A SAVINGS PLAN CAN AID IN FINANCIAL ADVANCEMENT

 I remember during the Trainer of Trainers training conducted by Bank of Uganda we were encouraged to develop a savings plan. This was a key development because without a plan we may live in financial darkness. In my years of providing financial literacy across the country especially youths I have observed that the intangible practices that may be undermined play a big role in the big picture. I have been asked a question, "how can one save yet their needs exceed their income?. It is a tough question but the best practice remains that even in the hardest of circumstances we should prioritize saving .This is because we do not know what the future holds. As humans we forget so fast. Who remembers during the lock down of Covid-19 when people were not working. Life was extremely tough. It was an opportunity to reflect about the importance of savings during good times. A savings plan enables a person to determine why they are saving. It could be for school fees, buying a plot, a car an
Read more

WE CELEBRATE GRADUATION BUT AFTER THAT WHAT NEXT ?

 Uganda is officially dominated by young people. Over 50 %of the population are youths. With a high population the job market also shrinks yet people need to survive. It is the means of survival that create social pressure. The unemployment dilemma in the country can be dissected from different angles and each person or all stakeholders have a critical role to play.  Universities and other institutions of higher learning produce over 300,000 graduates per year. The job creation rate is about 70,000 jobs per year. This means that the job market is narrow. It is a common sight to see over 100 applicants for one job. This is a signal that something drastic must be done to change this trajectory. Development partners such as government, private sectors and donors such as Master Card Foundation are playing a critical role in addressing youth unemployment. In fact this suggests that fight against youth unemployment must be multifaceted.  During graduation season it is justifiable for any stu
Read more