Is linking technical and vocational training with industry a bridge to employability? Lessons from a literature review for Ethiopia

Abstract

Skill demand and supply mismatch is a global problem identified as a root cause of unemployment, urging education and training institutions to revise their curriculum with the collaboration of industries. This article aimed to analyze prior research outputs on the effective Linkage of technical and vocational training institutions with industries and extract lessons for Ethiopia. The study covered 30 purposefully selected articles and analyzed thematically to identify lessons and implications that fit Ethiopia. The findings highlighted Linkage as a platform for sharing powers and responsibilities between education and training institutions and serve as a workplace transition. Linkage can be through qualification standard setting, curriculum development, internship, and apparent ship programs. The industry serves as a laboratory that allows trainees to analyze, synthesize, and reflect on the technological needs and challenges of industries, enables them to solve problems of industries, creates employment opportunities, allows industries to select competent workers, helps to share training costs and exchange expertise, builds the image of technical and vocational training. The findings further identified the challenges of Linkage and its coping strategies. Finally, the review concluded that Linkage is necessary rather than the choice to minimize skill mismatches, reduce unemployment, and increase productivity, especially in countries like Ethiopia that run short of training resources. However, further research is needed to monitor the situation continuously and determine appropriate policy changes for skill development interventions.