Study ranks UoN, KU graduates most preferred by employers

Several Kenyan bosses reportedly prefer the University of Nairobi (UoN) graduates, according to recent research. The research found out that those who passed through UoN had a 38% chance of landing jobs.

Others included Kenyatta University (30%), Technical University (10%), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (19%). Egerton and Maseno tied with 18%.

Dubbed "The State of Graduate Employability in Kenya," the study was conducted between November 2019 and January 2020, and undertaken by CPS International.

Also included were the top five privately-owned institutions of higher learning and whose graduates stood a bigger consideration chance.

These universities included Mount Kenya (18%), KCA (6%), The United States International University- Africa (6%), Strathmore (5.8%), and Aga Khan (4.8%).

Out of graduate employees, 81% were from public universities, while another 17% were from private universities. As per the report, professional fields among the graduates were as follows.

Business and economics (47%), Engineering (11%), Medicine (8.9%), Applied Sciences/ ICT (6.7%), Fashion and Design (4%), Humanities/ Others (2%).

Public Universities with many employed Graduates include UoN, Maseno, KU, Jkuat, and Moi, while the private ones included, USIU, Nazarene, Mt. Kenya, Strathmore, and KCA.

Among the interviewed recruiters, 84% emphasized much on experience, while 73% touched on talents, skills, and hobbies. At least 67% cited voluntary work, with 21% pointing an interest in the internship.

On the University's reputation over the graduates, 54% of bosses interviewed said that it was a consideration, with 26% terming it unnecessary.

"Therefore, graduates from highly ranked universities having a good reputation have a better chance of employment," concludes the study.

The study also revealed how some scholars, especially from urban institutions, were costly to afford than the rural institutions' graduates. Through the study also, bosses urged higher learning centres to involve them in designing the study curriculum.

The study's results tallied with a 2017 research, namely, "The Higher Education Sector Survey" by Madison Insurance. This indicated UoN, KU, Maseno, Jkuat, Masinde Muliro, Moi, Egerton, Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA), Strathmore, and Daystar graduates as favorites for most bosses.