Bridging the Skills Gap Through Academia: Can Company CEOs Be Part of the Faculty? A Desk Research Review
Keywords:
Academia, CEOs, Academia, CEOs, Employability, Industry-academia collaboration, Skills gapAbstract
The enduring gap between graduate competencies and labor market expectations remains a global concern. In Kenya, the workforce participation rate stands at 66.7%, indicating that a significant portion of the population, particularly recent graduates, remain unemployed or underemployed. These challenges necessitate a bold reimagining of academia’s role in workforce development. Traditional teaching methods have predominantly emphasized technical skills, whereas employers increasingly value transversal skills such as communication, critical thinking, innovativeness, and adaptability, which cut across roles and sectors. Current discourse on bridging the skills gap often occurs in silos, with academia and industry viewing each other as the problem rather than collaborators. Anchored on the experiential learning theory, this paper explores the feasibility and strategic value of integrating industry leaders, particularly company CEOs, into academic teaching roles. Incorporating firsthand industry insights through part-time faculty appointments, mentorship programs, or guest lectures, higher education institutions can better align curricula with market realities. The paper reviews current literature on the skills mismatch, critiques the persistent divide between academia and industry, and presents case studies where CEO engagement has enhanced learning outcomes. It concludes by proposing policy, institutional, and partnership frameworks that embed corporate leadership within academia as a mechanism for improving graduate employability.
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