The Role of University-Industry linkage in Implementing Competency-based Curricula in Public Higher Learning Institutions in Ethiopia

Literature of Review

Abstract

Purpose: Policymakers are seeking to encourage Universities to become more entrepreneurial and engage more actively with the productive sector. The main objective of this article is to review the studies previously conducted with regard to the implementation of a competency-based curriculum in the higher institutions-industry linkage of Ethiopia.
Method: The review is based on the qualitative systematic review approach. A total of twenty studies on the Ethiopian curriculum were reviewed which includes 14 journal articles, 3 government or non-government reports, and 2 policy issues on University-Industry linkage and 1 working paper. The studies were accessed online through the Google search engine.
Result: The findings indicate that so far, the contribution of academic research in enhancing the country’s economic development is minimal. Also no attention is given to the issues of responsibilities regarding the non-implementation of the competency-based curriculum in higher education institutions of Ethiopia.
Implications: The government has to do more in connecting the role of stakeholders such as Universities and business sectors, create an interlink between Universities, TVET, National Laboratories, the Financial Support Systems, Science & Technology Parks/Incubators, Businesses Enterprises and the National Quality System (NQS). Also the government or the concerned bodies need to develop a system of monitoring for the better implementation of the competency-based curriculum in higher education of Ethiopia.