Strengthening employability systems in higher education
The Systems Change Program – Employability (SCP-E) is an 18-month institutional transformation journey designed to strengthen the systems that enhance graduate employability in higher education institutions.
Establishing effective employability systems requires systematic planning, strategic institutional commitment, strong capacity building, and sustained mentorship support.
Participating institutions identify gaps and receive support through expert training, mentoring, and funding to design, improve, and scale employability and career services that align with their context and strategic priorities.
Capacity Building for Career Services Leaders
Career services professionals and institutional leads gain the skills and confidence to design, implement, and improve employability systems. Institutional representations access practical tools, mentorship, and funding to translate strategy into action. Staff develop data literacy and monitoring capabilities to make informed decisions about graduate outcomes.
Sustainable Career Services Systems
A clearly defined, resourced careers and employability strategy aligned with institutional priorities. Functional career services units with structured programming, employer engagement pathways, and monitoring systems in place. Standardized tools to track graduate outcomes and continuously strengthen career preparation initiatives.
Connected Employability Ecosystems across Africa
Shared frameworks and toolkits that promote consistent, evidence-based employability systems across institutions. A regional peer network of career services professionals exchanging knowledge and strengthening practice. Stronger cross-institutional collaboration, contributing to more coordinated and sustainable employability reforms across African higher education.
Institutions refine and implement their career services strategies through targeted training, benchmarking visits, and access to practical tools. These resources support the design of effective career services units, programs, monitoring systems, and fundraising strategies.
Each institution is paired with an experienced careers development professional. Mentorship is tailored, sustained, and focused on implementation – supporting progress from strategy to execution.
Participating institutions receive seed funding to advance priority activities, including establishing or strengthening career services units, piloting programs, improving monitoring systems, and deepening employer engagement. Funding is aligned with institutional plans to ensure long-term sustainability.
The program establishes strong monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks to progress, capture insights, and strengthen accountability. Lessons inform institutional decisions and contribute to shared knowledge across the network.
Institutions join a peer network dedicated to continuous learning. Through the Employability Community of Practice, members share models, tools, and lessons that strengthen employability systems across Africa.
In 2021, IPRC-Gishari set out to strengthen career support so students graduate ready for meaningful work and enterprise. With mentorship and institutional leadership, the college developed its first career services strategy – aligning vocational training with labor market needs. Since then, IPRC-Gishari has introduced an institutional mentorship program, integrated employability skills into its curriculum, launched structured career fairs and employer engagement models, and developed a business incubation model.
Watch how IPRC-Gishari is building sustainable career pathways.
To express your interest, share your details with us and a member of our team will be in touch to learn more about your institution’s needs
