The Effectiveness of Existing Tvet–Industry Linkages in Enhancing Trainees’ Marketable Skills

This study evaluates the effectiveness of existing TVET–industry linkages in enhancing trainees’ marketable skills in Eastern Uganda. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design with a total response rate of 98.4%, including 326 trainees, 138 trainers, 6 institutional principals, and 6 industrial partners. Results reveal that industrial attachments are organized and beneficial, although the duration of some attachments was found to be too short for deep skill acquisition, and mentorship was found not to be consistent. The modules are seen as relevant, but most are hampered by the need for updating resources and slow integration of feedback. Joint training and industry involvement activities are not consistent, resulting in inconsistent trainee exposure. TVET–industry linkages were highly correlated with marketable skills development with r = 0.659. These linkages accounted for 43.4% of the variance in the marketable skills development (R² = 0.434) by regression analysis. The study concludes that although linkages do exist, they are hampered by lack of consistency in implementation, brief attachment periods, and ad hoc collaboration. Suggested solutions include industry attachment durations based on competency, formalizing mentoring relationships between the industry and training units, having standardized protocols for agile curriculum updates, expert-in-residence programs funded by the industry, mandatory industry immersion for trainers on a cyclical basis, and structured industry immersion as a component of the training curriculum.

TVET–Industry Linkages, Marketable Skills, Industrial Attachments, Curriculum Alignment, Employability, Skills Development.

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