How Universities are Accelerating Research and Innovation in East Africa.
Do universities stand at the nexus of research and innovation? Yes, they do. Not only do these institutions draw curious minds, but they also offer a platform for fostering entrepreneurial skills and innovation. However, they also face the challenge of connecting students with employment opportunities in a job market that can be quite limited, both formally and informally. Consider these staggering numbers: every year, around 10–12 million young Africans enter the job market, but there are only 3 million formal job positions available as per recent data. Additionally, the International Labor Organization reported that in 2020, youth unemployment rates in Africa were at 10.7%, higher than the global average of 13.6%. To bridge this gap, university-industry partnerships have emerged as crucial connectors, with statistics from 2022 revealing that 46.8% of universities globally have established links with…