This project was implemented under the 10X Program, funded by the MasterCard Foundation through Outbox (U) Ltd, and executed by Eight Tech Consults Ltd in partnership with Refactory. The initiative aimed to assess the readiness of 14 selected public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across Uganda to offer programs in Software Engineering and Hardware Maintenance. It is part of a broader effort to equip financially disadvantaged youth particularly women, persons with disabilities, and refugees with high-level digital skills to enhance their employment prospects and economic resilience.
The overall objective of the assessment was to evaluate the institutional, programmatic, and systemic capacity of TVET institutions to deliver digital programs in software engineering and hardware maintenance.
The specific objectives included:
- Assessing the institutional capacity of TVETs in terms of governance, management, infrastructure, and human resources.
- Evaluating the relevance and readiness of curriculum, instruction methods, and learning tools for digital programs.
- Identifying systemic challenges including policy, funding, and coordination frameworks.
- Exploring stakeholder engagement and industry linkages necessary for effective program delivery and graduate employability.
Tasks completed
- Conducted an in-depth literature review and developed a digitized data collection toolkit.
- Carried out a mixed-method study involving surveys, interviews, and FGDs across 14 TVET institutions.
- Engaged 628 respondents from a range of stakeholder groups: students, alumni, instructors, policymakers, and industry players.
- Analyzed quantitative and qualitative data using a gender-sensitive and inclusive lens.
- Benchmarked best practices from countries like Germany, South Korea, UAE, and China.
- Assessed policy alignment, institutional readiness, staff competencies, infrastructure, and stakeholder feedback.
- Documented challenges, skill gaps, gender disparities, and inclusivity in the TVET system.
Output
- This project delivered the following key outputs:
- Capacity Assessment Report outlining institutional, programmatic, and systemic gaps in digital readiness.
- Policy and Strategy Recommendations to inform the introduction of software engineering and hardware maintenance programs.
- Benchmarking Brief from global TVET ecosystems to contextualize Uganda’s gaps and strengths.
- Gender and Inclusion Analysis revealing disparities in staffing, student access, and program participation.
- Stakeholder Engagement Insights identifying collaboration opportunities between TVETs, industry, and development partners.
- Data Visualizations and Statistical Summaries to support decision-making and resource planning.