When Gladys Mabonga walked into The Education Collaborative’s Career Strategy Workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in October 2024, she was not just attending for herself—she was there for her students. Her journey began three years earlier when Prof. Washington Okeyo, Vice Chancellor of The Management University of Africa (MUA), returned from the East Africa Hub Convening with fresh perspectives on career development.
“I was assigned to head the Career Development and Employability Pillar at the university. That’s when it dawned on me—I needed to figure out exactly what to do. I spent time benchmarking and conducting fact-finding exercises, and when the opportunity to attend the Career Strategy Workshop came up in 2024, I knew this was my chance to learn and bring back strategies to enhance career services at MUA,” shares Gladys.
A Strategic Approach to Career Development
As the workshop began, three critical questions stood at the forefront of Gladys’ mind:
- How do we establish a fully functional Career Services Center from scratch?
- How do we ensure maximum student participation in career development activities?
- How do we integrate employability and soft skills into the curriculum?
Determined to transform MUA’s approach, Gladys returned with a clear action plan focused on putting students at the center of all career development efforts. Her plan prioritized:
- Developing a one-year strategic plan for career services to provide a structured roadmap for implementation.
- Embedding digital literacy and soft skills training into MUA’s graduate profile to enhance student employability.
- Refining data collection tools for industrial attachments to ensure meaningful assessment and alignment with graduate outcomes.
Early Wins and Tangible Impact
Just six months after the workshop, Gladys is already seeing results. Resume writing workshops, elevator pitch coaching, and professional LinkedIn profile development have significantly improved students’ career readiness. She credits the workshop with shifting her mindset and strategy toward more impactful career development initiatives at MUA.
Would she recommend the workshop to others? Without hesitation.
“I would highly recommend the workshop. There is so much learning from experts and peers in the field—it’s an invaluable experience,” Gladys says. Gladys’ story is a testament to how targeted learning, strategic action, and collaboration can drive real change in higher education career services.
Join us for the next Career Strategy Workshop!
The Education Collaborative will hold its 4th Edition of the Career Strategy Workshop from 13th to 15th June 2025! This immersive three-day event is tailored specifically for career development professionals in higher education who want to elevate their expertise and transform career services at their institutions. Whether you are building your career services center from the ground up or looking to scale and enhance existing services, this workshop offers customized guidance and mentorship on your journey. Click here for more information.
