University regulator, Commission for University Education (CUE) raise concerns from employers over the quality of graduates produced, arguing that entry-level workers lack competency skills.
“The committee observed that the ability of universities council to provide advocacy and oversight is weak,” reads the CUE audit.
Public university boards have been found to lack the capacity to safeguard quality higher education through proper oversight of the management.
“Major policy decisions such as the establishment of campuses had been made and implemented by the university management without the knowledge or approval of councils.” CUE noted.
This means Vice-Chancellors have unimpeded powers in running the public universities and course developed by the institutions.
“The involvement of Chancellors should be more overtly seen as central to the business of the university especially in regard to recommending to the Cabinet Secretary a visitation and giving advice the Council,” recommends the report.
Chancellors are like heads of boards or chair of the councils. A shortage of PhD and qualified lecturers has dimmed the quality of university graduates.
The implication is this despite the improvement in university enrolment across the region and the fact that thousands of young people are graduating each year; their qualifications are unable to secure many of them jobs.