Computer Science editorial
Open AccessOA2025
Tracer Study of Graduates of National Diploma in Water, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering Programmes 2016-2019
UBTEB's tracer study of 249 engineering diploma graduates and 39 employers reveals that most graduates find employment within a year, but digital skills gaps, ineffective internships, and unequal job access persist. Teaching quality and entrepreneurial training are key employability drivers.
Lilian Nakawala; Abel Mukakanya Muwumba; Sam Patrick Ogwang; W. Nahamya; Onesimus Oyesigyeยท International Journal of Advanced Researchยท 2025ยท DOI 10.37284/ijar.8.1.3372
The core problem
The Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) has been assessing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students at certificate and diploma levels since 2011. Over the past decade, nearly 69,821 TVET graduates from technical institutions have entered the workforce across various engineering disciplines. Despite this, little is known about how these graduates transition into employment. To address this gap, UBTEB conducted a Tracer Study of National Diploma Engineering Graduates (2016โ2019), focusing on employment timelines, programme relevance, employability factors, employer satisfaction, and curriculum alignment with industry needs.
Innovation
The study employed a structured approach with a sample size of 249 graduates and 39 employers. The process began with graduate survey preparation that included data collection, verification, and strategies to enhance response rates. Data analysis was performed using Excel and STATA. A logistic econometric model was applied to assess employability determinants. The logistic model can be represented as:
where is the probability of being employed, and are predictor variables such as teaching quality, entrepreneurial training, and academic performance.
Introduction
The Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) has been assessing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students at certificate and diploma levels since 2011. Over the past decade, nearly 69,821 TVET graduates from technical institutions have entered the workforce across various engineering disciplines. Despite this, little is known about how these graduates transition into employment. To address this gap, UBTEB conducted a Tracer Study of National Diploma Engineering Graduates (2016โ2019), focusing on employment timelines, programme relevance, employability factors, employer satisfaction, and curriculum alignment with industry needs.
Why it matters
The study highlights a paradox: while employers praise the technical competencies of graduates, they identify gaps in soft skills and digital proficiency. The misalignment between TVET curricula and industry requirements suggests a need for comprehensive reforms. The logistic model indicates that teaching quality and entrepreneurial training significantly enhance employability. However, informal hiring networks perpetuate inequalities, disadvantaging graduates without such connections. The findings underscore the importance of modernising curricula, strengthening work-based learning, and expanding career support services. Recommendations emphasise improving education quality, teaching methods, and entrepreneurial training to enhance graduate employability and align skills with labour market demands. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders to strengthen Ugandaโs TVET system.
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