The Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) is taking bold steps to bridge the gap between higher education and the job market through a new graduate tracer study under the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) project.
The initiative, targeting SUA graduates from 2021 to 2023, seeks to establish where alumni are now, what they are doing, and how the education they received has influenced their employability or entrepreneurial success.
According to the HEET SUA Deputy Coordinator, Dr. Winfred Mbungu, the study is part of the university’s broader strategy to produce graduates who can thrive in a competitive and fast-changing economy.
“This research will help us understand how well our programmes prepare students for real-life opportunities,” said Dr. Mbungu. “We want to see whether our graduates are getting employed, starting their own businesses, or continuing with further studies. This will guide us in refining our training to better meet labour market demands.”
He added that the study will be conducted digitally to ensure accuracy and efficiency, enabling SUA to design evidence-based reforms for future academic planning.
SUA lecturers, Dr. Noel Makwinya and Dr. Shedrack Kitimu, said the tracer study will provide crucial data on how effectively the university’s graduates are applying their skills in different sectors.
“The findings will help us determine whether the knowledge and competencies imparted at SUA match the expectations of employers and the realities of self-employment,” said Dr. Makwinya.
Dr. Kitimu added that the results will be instrumental in modernizing SUA’s curricula. “We are preparing students for a dynamic market that keeps evolving. The data we gather will help us adjust our programmes to ensure graduates are adaptable, innovative, and ready for global opportunities,” he said.
The Coordinator for Curriculum Development and Improvement under HEET-SUA, Prof. Jamal Athuman, said SUA will roll out new academic programmes in the 2025/2026 academic year. He emphasized the importance of using the study’s findings to shape these reforms.
“Before launching new curricula, it is important to know how our recent graduates are performing in the job market. This will allow us to measure the HEET project’s real impact in improving graduate employability,” Prof. Jamal explained.
Funded by the World Bank, the HEET project aims to transform Tanzania’s higher education system by promoting practical training, innovation, and stronger partnerships between universities and industries.
Through this effort, SUA hopes to enhance its role in producing graduates who not only find jobs but create them.