How Higher education institutions are empowering women

In our pursuit to connect with higher education providers across the continent, we crossed over from Ghana to Rwanda to interview some of the leading HE institutions making an impact on women in society.

A lot has been talked about post-genocide Rwanda and steps taken by Government and private bodies to develop the manpower in Rwanda.

In East Africa, there is a profound gap between the education system and the human capital needs of the new booming private sector. Businesses complain regularly of a poorly trained and inadequate workforce, and yet 85% of women still work in subsistence agriculture, living on less than $2 per day.

Only 1% of the population enters university, and less than one-third of those students are female. Clearly, there is a disconnect between what employers want and what the education system supplies. Akilah acts as the bridge connecting underemployed, high-potential young women to jobs in the fastest-growing sectors of the economy.

In an interview with www.uniafrica.net, Mrs. Elizabeth Dearborn-Hughes, Founder of Akilah Institute for Women, an institution fully dedicated for training and empowering girls and women of East Africa, praised the effort made by the current Government of Rwanda under the leadership of H.E. Paul Kagame.

The Rwandan government has made education a top priority, and international universities are attracted to this favorable environment. In the past five years, we’ve seen Carnegie Mellon University, Oklahoma Christian University, Vatel, and Partners in Health open campuses in Rwanda. Even Akilah Institute have expanded our Kigali campus and will accept 400 students for our 2017 intake.

As per Elizabeth, Rwanda is positioning itself as a continental leader in growing fields like technology and hospitality. Students can tap into an ecosystem filled with industry professionals at the top of their game and intern with cutting-edge companies.

For instance, Zipline, the world’s first commercial drone company, and Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company, both established operations in Rwanda this year. International companies like these provide exciting learning and employment opportunities for students.

When asked by UniAfrica.net about the impact made on the life of African women since she started Akilah in 2010, Elizabeth outlined that the mission has always been to deliver a market-relevant education that enables young women to achieve economic independence and obtain leadership roles in the workplace and in society. That hasn’t changed.

However, methods for realizing that mission have. Akilah is continually refining their curriculum, adding new student services, and introducing new employment and internship opportunities. For example, Akilah launched Information Systems diploma in 2014, and this year opened two new computer labs, a hospitality lab, and a Business Incubation Center to help students turn their ideas into viable businesses.

With a clear vision for development, we value objective measurements, and the numbers show that we’ve made a positive impact on the lives of our students. Approximately 75% of our students were unemployed prior to joining Akilah. Once they graduate, 88% find jobs within six months. They earn, on average, 12x the national median income. They go on to work for international companies, such as Marriott International, Serena, Airtel, and One Acre Fund. And, most importantly, they move up the ranks quickly to assume leadership positions. Many also start and run their own businesses, becoming employers themselves.

When asked about the most talked about “The Akilah Model” of education, Elizabeth outlined how the curriculum is developed as per the requirement of the employers. With over 60 employment partners that we regularly consult while designing our courses. We also solicit their feedback on the performance of our interns and graduates so we can update and refine our model to meet labor market demands.

As per her, Industry-led programs tend to focus on the technical skills. But Akilah believe soft skills (like problem-solving, communication, and teamwork) are also necessary for students’ long-term development. Akilah offers both the technical skills students need to get a job and the soft skills that will ensure they become leaders in their workplaces, families, and communities.

Proudly speaking about the model, Elizabeth informed that all of her students must complete 512 hours of leadership instruction, a Social Change Project, and at least 80 hours of community service. They participate in student clubs and national competitions. She feels all of these experiences are critical to developing well-rounded, ethical leaders.

It is due to this successful model that that Akilah, a pan-African institution, have prepared hundreds of women for competitive careers and leadership roles in East Africa. The world needs more female leaders, and we’re excited to help educate and support them. An 88% job placement rate is a really exciting fact! Our graduates are progressing quickly in their careers too. Approximately 58% have received at least one promotion in their position and/or salary since graduation, and 36% are supervising at least one other employee.

Commending UniAfrica.net for their role in providing information about higher educations options in Africa, she streesed on the need for resources that enable students to make informed choices about their academic and professional futures. UniAfrica.net provides that transparency in higher education, and students can get information about higher education options available, with more information on career paths, financial aid, university employment rates, and scholarships. UniAfrica.net play an important role in bridging the information gap.

When asked by UniAfrica.net about sharing the Akilah Model experience to other part of Africa, Elizabeth announced that Akilah will open seven more campuses by 2030. The new campuses will allow us to serve 40,000 women globally. We’re also launching online certificate courses so that women all over Africa and the world can access Akilah’s unique content, which is design specifically for emerging female leaders and entrepreneurs. By 2030, we expect 1 million girls and women will have participated in our online courses.

Making an emotional appeal to all girls and women in Africa, Elizabeth want them to grow up knowing they have the agency and power to create their own futures. She appealed to young African girls with big aspirations that they can’t wait for a “prince”, they have to own and act on their goals.