The Relationship between Private Institutions of Higher Learning and Banking Industry in Addis Ababa

Abstract

In the globalizing world, the speed of innovation in technology and information has accelerated. In this situation, there is demand for qualified and skilled human resource capable of responding to changes in the structure of their job or technological content. Specialists who are able to respond to a higher level of work and greater complication of a specific type of job are necessary. For instance, in developing countries if one looks the provision of graduates to industry and service sector, over the past many years, the reality has been a mismatch between skills and knowledge acquired in the classrooms and the world of work requires. By the same token, the contribution of the banking industry to the education sector has been insignificant. The objective of the study was to assess the level of cooperation between the banking industry and PHEIs. An effort was also exerted to identify weaknesses and strengths of the partnership and to point out ways to rectify the existing weaknesses and maintain or improve the existing strengths. Two types of questionnaires were distributed to eight banks and ten PHEIs. Descriptive analysis is done through tabulation and percentage. From the findings of the study, the researchers conclude that the relationship is weak in the following areas: teaching-learning process, consultancy activities, and internship and employment creation. On the other hand, their relationship is found out to be strong in selection, training and development of employees. At organizational level, the following points are recommended. The two parties should work together in identifying research topics, providing research inputs to researchers, sponsoring research, arranging forums for presentation of research outputs, and communicating findings to pertinent organizations by involving practitioners in the development of course contents, in delivering classroom lectures, in and fostering educational tour programs PHEIs and banks can jointly make the teaching-learning process fruitful. The two parties can also benefit a lot by co-operating in consultancy activities, in the provision of internship and employment of opportunities