7 - Challenges Faced by Heads of Academic Departments in Reforming University Curricula to Promote Graduate Employability

Abstract

This article examines the roles played by heads of academic departments (HoDs) and the challenges they face in reforming their units’ curricula to promote graduate employability in a university college in Uganda. The study arose because of persistent complaints by employers and other stakeholders about the lack of employable skills among university graduates in the country, in spite of several curricular reviews having taken place in the institution. Using the qualitative approach, data was collected from four purposively selected HoDs through in-depth interviews. The study’s results showed, among others, that the participants had different understandings of what graduate employability meant: while some conceptualised it as the possession of employable skills by graduates, others viewed it as the ability of a university student to complete his/ her study programme and obtain gainful employment. Second, the participants revealed that they often enabled the revision of the curricula to promote graduate employability, by involving and motivating stakeholders in curricular reviews, offering effective leadership, and by providing requisite information and support to their staff during curriculum review and development. Finally, the study participants reported facing several challenges in revising the curricula of their units, including limited co-operation by stakeholders, rapidly changing societal needs and a shortage of funds to aid the process of curriculum review and development.