African Continental Qualifications Framework Project Peer Learning Webinar

On the 28^th of October 2021 the African Continental Qualifications Framework Project (ACQF) which is a product of the African-European Union partnership hosted the 12^th Peer Learning Webinar (PLW). The webinar hosted several leaders that cut across industries who conversed on various African experiences while offering solutions.
 
Ms. Grace Kaome, Manager Human Resource and Administration at Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) represented Mrs. Jacqueline Mugo, the Secretary General of Business Africa - Employers’ Confederation (BUSINESSAfrica) during the webinar.
 
While making remarks on socio economic recovery from the Pandemic, Ms. Kaome noted that there is need to retrain and upskill the active population. With the major shift from traditional work to remote working or a hybrid, the need to gain more skills and create awareness on them cannot be overemphasized. With the current developments, some skills have notably become redundant while others are inadequate or insufficient for the current labour market. Among other studies and research.
 
In 2017, the McKinsey Global Institute estimated that as many as 14% of the global workforce would have to switch occupations or acquire new skills by 2030. This is now a reality, and the pandemic has hastened that paradigm shift.
 
In addressing the skills considered as fundamental in facilitating a successful transition, she referenced findings of a survey conducted among employers and enterprises mid this year. The survey showed the top skills the employers/enterprises considered important for the future and that they would be recruiting for. Amongst the top 5 were digital skills, creativity and innovation related skills, communication skills, Teamwork & collaboration, and Emotional Resilience skills.
 
With the new emerging skills, the employees, employers, learning institutions, governments, partners amongst others; all have a role to play in developing the new and emerging skills. To be part of this paradigm shift, everyone needs to be on board! There is also need for multiple approaches of capacity development as we embrace the new skills. One is not enough, and a single approach cannot address all needs. Open mindedness is paramount to achieving the vision where our learning institutions have curriculums that are future based and shaped by labour industry needs hence overcoming the problem of skills mismatch.
 
BUSINESSAfrica further proposed the following regarding how the ACQF ought to support these transformations:

1. Promote development, standardization, and harmonization of qualifications within each of the African countries hence Qualifications Framework at country level.
2. Promote Standardization of Qualification Frameworks across Africa.
3. Support development, review, harmonization, and Implementation of the Qualification Framework.