Operations Management Practices and Fit-for-purpose Graduates: a Case of Aga Khan University

Abstract

The ability of Kenyan universities to offer quality education and in turn churn out graduates who are employable by industry has often been put into question. Industry players have consistently complained about spending inordinate amounts of resources to reskill entry-level employees. The inability of most Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to match the dynamic needs of the labour market is, therefore, seen as a hindrance to their contribution to Kenya’s socio-economic development. While Kenyan industries struggle to find employable graduates, many graduates’ ‘tarmac’ for long periods with few of them securing formal employment. Industries argue that graduates lack work-related capabilities, technical mastery and employability skills. The objective of this research was to assess the operations management practices at Aga Khan University (AKU) and the linkages between AKU and industries in Kenya. The specific operations management practices that were analysed were process design, quality control, performance measurement, work scheduling, and resource and facilities allocation while the linkages that were assessed were governance, curriculum development, teaching and learning, assessment, and research projects. The research was anchored on four theories collaborative learning theory, experiential learning theory, business process redesign/reengineering theory, and six sigma theory. The study adopted a mixed methods research design to collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data in response to the research objectives. The target population for the study was 2,290 elements comprising industry experts/practitioners, senior management, faculty, middle-level management, support services, students, and alumni. From this, the research selected a representative sample of 340 respondents. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and short structured interviews and was evaluated using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings from the research revealed that operations management was well understood and well adopted in AKU. The research also found that university-industry collaborations had a positive influence on fit for purpose graduates in Kenya. The haphazard and inconsistent manner of implementing university-industry collaborations meant that the full benefits of such collaboration was not felt on the graduates and by extension in industry. The study recommended that AKU; creates awareness on the value of operations management practices and that of linkages with industry; review and amend the university policy on university-industry linkages; and set up a directorate of university-industry linkages or empower any existing structure to such a level. Doing so would ensure that the benefits of close and well-organized collaboration with industry are realized in turn producing fit for purpose graduates.