Botho University (Botswana) hosted the first UPSCALE Experts’ Workshop with academic leaders from Botswana, Eswatini, Slovenia, Spain, and Poland. The 1st Experts’ workshop aimed at sharing the experience of partners in graduate tracking and Dual learning. The event was attended by representatives from the participating institutions physically and some members attended the workshop online. Following institutions were represented during the workshop: Botho University (Botswana), BUAN (Botswana), BAISAGO (Botswana), SANU (Eswatini), UNESWA (ESwatini), University of Lleida (Spain), EPDRI (Slovenia), Maria Curie Sklodowska (Poland), ISSBS (Slovenia).

The workshop was opened by Dr. Sheela Ram, who is the Vice Chancellor of Botho University. Day 1 of the event focused on the topic, Graduates` Employability tracking: EU and Sub-Saharan Africa experience. A representative of national key stakeholder, Ministry of Employment and Productivity, Botswana, Ms. Bagele Masimole talked about the experiences at national level. Dr. Olesea Sirbu from EPDRI, Co-coordinator of the UPSCALE project, shared with the participants the objectives, activities and important achievements of the project.
The Speaker Session 1 with focus on Graduate Employability Tracking in Sub Saharan Africa had speakers from African partner institutions – Mrs. Aravinda Ram (P1-BU), Dr Duduzile Nkomo (P2-BIU), Dr. Kgomotso Mabusa (P3- BUAN), Dr Sipho S. Shongwe (P4-UNESWA) and Dr. Ishmael Dhemba (P5-SANU). This session was dedicated to understanding the current situation of employability tracking in Sub Saharan Africa, and during which participants learned that African institutions are still at an early stage in this process.

The second Speaker Session was to learn about the comparative Perspectives and best practices of EU institutions in Graduate Employability Tracking and had speakers who shared practices in Slovenia, Spain and Poland.The case of Slovenia was presented by Prof. Valerij Dermol (P6-ISSBS), case of Poland presented by Prof. Anna Rakowska (P7-UMCS) and case of Spain shared by Prof. Ferran Badia Pascua (P9-UDL)

Experts’ Workshop Days 2 focused on the topic, Promoting Dual Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from the European Experience. Session 1 for the day focused on Dual Higher Education in Europe – Models and Best Practices and had speakers from Slovenia, Poland, Spain and Germany. These sessions were handled by speakers; Prof. Valerij Dermol (P6-ISSBS), Dr hab. Tomasz Kijek (P7-UMCS), Prof. Ferran Badia Pascua (P9-UDL) and Prof. Wendy Fehnlner (DHBW). <\p>

Session 2 focused on “The State of Dual Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa” and various speakers from African partner institutions shared their current status with dual education. The session had the following speakers: Dr. Tonderai Vumbunu (P1-BU), Dr. Bolatumi Oyegoke (P2-BIU), Prof. Dickson Torimiro (P3-BUAN), Patience S. Dlamini (P4-UNESWA) and Dr. Nokuthula Dlamini(P5-SANU).

Both African partners and EU partners shared their experience in dual learning, EU partners have more than 20 years of experience in carrying out graduates tracking with surveys investigating the employment status of graduates at 1,2,5 years at graduation and this was shared during the workshop. Experts’ Workshop 1 concluded with discussions on various strategies for strengthening Dual Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa.