STRENGTHENING THE EMPLOYABILITY JOURNEY OF STUDENTS THROUGH COL
The University of Ghana's Department of Distance Education, in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning, held a two-day workshop from the February 3rd to 4th February 2025 to develop an employability framework for the university. By the end of the workshop, an employability framework for the University of Ghana had been developed based on the COL Employability Model.
A total of 55 delegates participated in the workshop which included the Provost (CoE), Founding Dean, Dean (SCDE), Heads of Departments, Director and Representative from the Careers Counselling Centre, Human Resources Directorate, Information Technology Directorate, Assistive Technology Unit, Lecturers, Administrators and alumni. Participants utilised the COL Employability Framework Template to confirm the key components and sub-components of UG Employability Framework.
University of Ghana Employability Framework based on the COL Employability Model
Using the framework, participants developed a student employability journey for the university which envisages 8 steps that all students will take as part of their qualifications. Participants found the workshop useful for highlighting the importance of faculty as mentors in fostering entrepreneurial mindsets, and the need to align skills development with both industry demands and essential soft skills like problem-solving and adaptability. Key takeaways included preparing students for employment from their first lecture, ensuring employability as a collective ethical responsibility, and encouraging voluntary work to build experience.
Participants also found value in the potential of universities in adopting employability strategies that do not require further funding, such as student internships which include a component of transferable skills evaluation from hosting employers. The workshop underscored the collective responsibility of universities to support employability and the need for practical solutions like an employability committee to monitoring and evaluate the implementation of these initiatives.
Participants recommended that the university urgently incorporate the employability framework, which includes strengthening industry-academia collaboration through work-based learning, apprenticeships, and industry-led projects. They emphasized the need for operationalizing the framework in future employability initiatives and urged the university to fully embrace these strategies to address youth unemployment.
Dean (SCDE)
Through request by the Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE), the employability framework and employability journey were further consulted with 11 staff members of the University. The outcome from the consultation is the piloting in the BA, MA and MPhil Professional Development programmes and BA, MA, MPhil and PhD Human Resources Development programmes. This marks the next step for implementation the University of Ghana Employability Framework.
An Employability Committee, chaired by Professor Samuel Amponsah will oversee implementation of the framework. Further representatives of the committee include the Career Counselling Centre, Human Resources Directorate, Student Representative Council – Graduate and Undergraduate, Inclusivity Unit, UG Alumni Association, Industry representation, Government representation, Academic Quality Assurance, Faculty and Information Technology together with the Dean and Founding Dean as ex-officio members.
Founding Dean
A few words from one of the participants: I am the Head of the Assistive Technology Unit and a disability rights advocate. I am excited to be part of this workshop in developing an employability framework for University of Ghana students. What particularly interests me is that the School of Continuing and Distance Education and COL are being intentional about ensuring the framework prioritises inclusion from the outset. This gives me hope that we are committed to creating an inclusive workforce in the long term, aligning with the SDG goal of leaving no one behind.
The project has been managed by Dr Jako Olivier, Commonwealth of Learning, Canada, and coordinated by Professor Samuel Amponsah, Head of Distance Education Department at the University of Ghana. The development of the University of Ghana Employability Framework and Journey was facilitated by Mr Chris Beukes who received an average of 94% for facilitation and 95% for his knowledge on employability.
