Workshop: Maximizing employer engagement for sustainable HEIs’ career development services

EMPLOYABILITY TRACK

Facilitators: Abigail Welbeck, Director of Career Service Department, Ashesi University; Mr. Karoli Kolokonyi, Director of Careers and Alumni Affairs, Kepler 

Description: Employer engagement is one of the most effective ways that HEIs can sustainably remain accountable to their graduates and other students in relation to how they can facilitate their career development and growth. This workshop will take a hands-on approach to share strategies and experiences that strengthen industry-HEI linkages. It will cover how HEIs can engage employers as a primary source for feedback that directly impacts the HEI career development curriculum. Facilitators will anchor content on the changing needs and trends of the labor market. This workshop will also search and identify challenges that exist as far as engaging employers is concerned. 

Expected Outcomes: Through group exercises, participants will be able to do the following: 

• Acquire knowledge and skills to sustainably engage employers across Africa for the career development of students. 
• Identify the relevant indicators to collect data on employment needs from employers. 
• Create criteria and tools to use to constantly collect feedback from employers about employment opportunities, changing needs, and progress from those already in the labor market. 
• Identify how data collected from employers can be utilized for decision-making and adaptive management by HEIs to facilitate the continuous improvement of the curriculum.