2026-10-12T20:47:22Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33940775 2026-09-18T19:55:13Z category_7 category_12 category_21 category_734 category_106 category_122 portal_87 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Employability-related curriculum gaps among graduates in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic literature review Placidius Ndibalema (25073915) Medicine Cell Biology Biotechnology Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Science Policy Mental Health Digital literacy labour market demands skills development soft skills work-integrated learning Social Sciences Education Higher Education Behavioral Sciences Developmental Psychology Child Abuse Testing, Measurement and Assessment Cheating I20 I23 J24 J31 J43 J65 <p>This study aimed to systematically review existing empirical studies and synthesise evidence on curriculum gaps impacting the employability of graduates in sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on evidence from 21 empirical studies, this systematic review examines the curriculum-related factors influencing graduate employability in sub-Saharan Africa. Using ATLAS.ti to support coding and thematic analysis, the review identifies several interconnected curriculum gaps that constrain graduates’ successful transition into the labour market. The findings reveal that many graduates lack practical experience, work readiness, and access to effective career guidance. These curriculum deficiencies contribute to a persistent mismatch between higher education outcomes and labour market requirements, leaving many graduates inadequately prepared for employment contributing to unemployment and underemployment in the settings represented in the reviewed studies. The review also highlights notable curriculum gaps, such as an overemphasis on theory, limited chances for work-based and experiential learning, and weak partnerships between higher education institutions and industry. These results emphasise the urgent need for comprehensive reforms, especially the integration of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), to improve graduate employability across sub-Saharan Africa.</p> 2026-09-18T19:55:13Z Dataset Dataset 10.6084/m9.figshare.33940775.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Employability-related_curriculum_gaps_among_graduates_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa_a_systematic_literature_review/33940775 CC BY 4.0