Effectiveness of Private Higher Education Institutions as Seen from the Perspective of Graduates and their Employers: The Case of St. Mary’s University College (SMUC) in Ethiopia.

Abstract

By considering concepts and approaches to performance evaluation, and the practice elsewhere, this research demonstrates, the importance of measuring the effectiveness of a higher education institution from the view point of its graduates and their employers in Ethiopian context. An illuminative evaluation case study research approach is adopted, using qualitative & quantitative data collection. Methods included: an extensive review of literature and examination of a set of raw data and official document resulted from the responses of SMUC’s graduates (n=665) and their employers (n=85) who participated in the recent tracer study conducted by the University College’s staffs (Hailemelekot & Mesfin, 2008). What the case study institution (SMUC) has been doing since its establishment in 1986 found to be highly effective in terms of creating, with 64% average employment rate, a relevant workforce for the consumption of various organizations/ institutions operating in the country: public/ government (39%), private (49%) and NGOs/ community-based (10%) and others (2%); preparing graduates for the world of work (81%), further education (41%), successful life after graduation (85%); and, contributing to the realization of their personal objectives (79%). Various factors are found to have a bearing on effectiveness of SMUC. Among others : (1) policies, rules and regulations formulated at macro and micro level, (2) absence of close working relationships with industries (manufacturing, service, etc.), (3) gaps in curriculum and instruction, and (4) lack of information on labor market at national and regional level. To be more effective, the case study organization is required to revisit its curriculum, instructional methods and graduate profile both in the short- and long-term. In doing so, the need for producing graduates with entrepreneurial mentality, skills and knowledge should be given due attention. Additionally, establishing close working relationships with industries so as to produce graduates meeting the expectations of potential employers, and influencing the policy environment to the effect of running the right and relevant training programs should also be considered as priority agenda items.