Title: The Role of Higher Education on Graduates’ Self-Employment in Tanzania’s Industrial Era: A Need for Reviewing Educational Curricular

Authors: Theophil Michael Sule and Noel Julius Ntawigaya

 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Teofilo Kisanji University, P.O. Box 1104, Mbeya, United Republic of Tanzania.

Correspondence: kwarhandi@yahoo.co.uk and noeljulius9@gmail.com

Abstract

Education is an important component in social economic development of nations. Through education people acquire skills, knowledge and competency vital for their personal benefits such as employment and reliable income. The government benefits by having employees who will be engaged in various development activities and eventually benefits through tax. This article aims at investigating the relationship between Higher education and self-employment among the graduates. The article will ascertain the factors which facilitate graduates to have employment or fail to get employment opportunities in the labour market. In discussing this topic, the authors will apply human capital theory as a lens to understand the argument put forward. This article argues that there is mismatch between higher education and labour market requirement in Tanzania. Hence, it suggests that for graduates’ effective self-employment or employment, they have to be proactive to learn soft skills required by employers. Nevertheless, universities have to collaborate and speared the process with the other stakeholders such as Industry and the government.

Keywords: Higher education; Self-employment; Graduates; Labour market; Educational curricular; Soft skills