PUCA’s week on professional education ended in Yaounde yesterday, January 15, 2015.

Over 110,000 new graduates leave universities in Cameroon each year. A 2010 World Bank report says that three out of four Cameroonian university graduates below 30 are without jobs. Thus, the need to adapt university training to meet the needs of today’s employers. The Protestant University of Central Africa, PUCA, yesterday, January 15, 2015, ended its two-day discussion on “Professionalising University Training for the Employment Market,” at the Etoa-Meki, Yaounde site of the institution.      

Speaking at the opening on January 14, 2015, the Rector, Rev. Prof. Bouba Mbima, said Cameroon in the 1980s had no major employment challenges. The number of universities was not a problem because everyone was admitted, bursaries were available and university graduates almost assured of jobs, he pointed out.

But the situation changed in the 1990s with the advent of the economic crisis, he disclosed. In spite of numerous efforts by governments, youth unemployment remains high – reaching 21.3 per cent today in the world for people under 25 years. For those with university education, the situation becomes a major barrier in fulfilling their life’s dreams, he noted.

Rev. Prof. Bouba Mbima explained that the choice of the theme was informed by the situation in the world whereby higher institutions of learning have continued to increase, but unemployment persists. He noted that such a situation was also a big challenge to governments because social unrest often begins from joblessness.

Dealing with unemployment, he insisted, is the only way of ensuring social peace and stability. The Inter-disciplinary Week is held every year by the various faculties of the Protestant University of Central Africa. This year’s event was attended by staff, students and guests. The university is this year placing emphasis on professionalism in order to meet the challenges of the employment market.