Search results

This study evaluated a programme, CAP Youth Empowerment Institute (CAPYEI) that uses Basic Employability Skills Training (BEST) model to contribute the evidence and generate lessons on the type of skills needed to enhance women economic empowerment. The purpose of the study is to generate evidence of what works in women skill acquisition and employability in Kenya.

This study adopted a mixed research design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to conduct an impact evaluation of the CAP YEI training programme on the employability and entrepreneurship of women and girls in Kenya. The design allows for the consideration of two groups: treatment and control groups thus allowing for a clear comparison of outcomes between those who received the training (treatment group) and those who did not (control group). Project evaluation data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Given that the study was conducted post evaluation, it did not have baseline survey data, therefore an ex post baseline evaluation using a retrospective approach was computed. In the absence of a true baseline, the questionnaire was tailored to allow beneficiary recall. A key design consideration of impact evaluation study was the identification of a valid control group that could generate a suitable counterfactual outcome.

The results indicate positive self-evaluation on most of the selected soft skills. For instance, over 80% of both the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries indicated that they possessed communication, teamwork, interpersonal, decision-making, prioritization, assertiveness and negotiation skills, whereas 58 % and 63 % of the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, respectively, indicating that they possessed information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Results indicate that skills development improves chances of employment among the target group and especially women. The results indicate that addressing gender inequality requires targeted interventions. The targeted interventions could be aimed at ensuring that women and girls are empowered to compete favourable with men and boys in the labour market.

This study was an evaluative study of the impact of an intervention in a single case study. This means while the findings of the study are relevant to policy and practice, they cannot be generalized to a broader populace. The absence of base-line data rendered the use of comparative data impossible. Data generated through self-reported assessment of intervention impacts are prone to responder biases, which may raise questions about the validity of the findings.

This study recommends integration of transferable skills training in teaching and training institutions to enhance competitiveness, employability and entrepreneurship chances of the graduates in the labour market. The study is significant in informing policy direction in Kenya.

This study evaluated a model of integrating transferable skills into a young women training programme and evaluated its impacts with a view of documenting what works for women employability. This case is a unique one in the country specific context.

This paper aims to analyse comparatively the existing partnerships between the University of Padua and the enterprises in Veneto region, Italy, on one hand and Kenyatta University and industries in Kenya on the other.

This was a case study of the University of Padua in Veneto Region, Italy, and Kenyatta University in Kenya. Data were collected through interviews with university leaders, a questionnaire with both close and open-ended questions for Heads and Department and Deans of Faculty as well as a close and open ended questionnaire for industry representatives.

In comparison, the University of Padua has more forums and platforms through which dialogue with the industry stakeholders is enhanced, with associations like confindustria, the PARIMUN project, the Master association in addition to the alumni association, regular students ' attachments and the distance learning programme. In Kenya on the other hand, Kenyatta University has partnerships through the provision of distance learning programmes, alumni associations, consultancies, incubation units and undergraduate course placements for select faculties.

The main implication of the study is that there are many avenues through which university industry partnerships can be enhanced. These range from joint research projects between university and industry, industry input in university course implementations and feedback the supply and demand of graduates in the job market.

The findings of this study are important to the government, university and industry stakeholders in Kenya in that they provide information on the possible forums for collaborations and the importance of these forums in provision of relevant higher education that can aid sustainable development.

Although previous studies have examined the influence of celebrity involvement in behavioural intentions, the role of celebrity dimensions such as attraction, self-expression and centrality in influencing tourists’ intention in the context of developing countries such as Tanzania remains largely unaddressed. This study, therefore, examined the relationship between celebrity involvement and domestic tourists' intentions to visit tourist attractions, attitude being the mediating variable.

A questionnaire was self-administered on a convenient sample of 279 domestic tourists in the Tanzania’s four largest regions, namely, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Arusha and Mwanza. Employing a quantitative research approach, structural equation modelling was performed to test the cause-and-effect relationships between celebrity involvement and tourists’ intentions before testing the mediating role of attitude in such a relationship. Confirmatory factor analysis was also performed to test the measurement models.

Attraction emerged to be the main determinant of the celebrity dimension that significantly influenced domestic tourists’ travel intentions, whereas attitude partially mediates such a relationship. Moreover, Bongo Fleva musicians, particularly Diamond Platnumz, one of the leading celebrities in this genre, were found to influence most of the respondents’ travel intentions – he posted a picture on his Instagram account of him touring the Serengeti National Park.

The study focused on domestic tourists residing in four of the Mainland Tanzania’s largest regions, hence excluding those residing on the islands of Unguja and Pemba. Due to cultural differences, including the islands not only could unleash new perspectives on celebrity involvement dimensions but also could have introduced new determinants of travel intentions.

This study offers guidance to tourism businesses on designing their marketing campaigns that they should harness celebrity’s attractive qualities effectively. The focus should be directed not only towards linking destinations with celebrities but also on stimulating positive perception of those destinations, aligning with the attitudes of their followers.

The study has set out a new perspective for researchers, practitioners and tourism businesses to refine their promotional strategies and for academicians to gain a deeper understanding of visitor behavioural intention dynamics.

This study has proposed and verified that attraction is a dominant determinant compared to self-expression and centrality in explaining tourists’ travel intentions and attitudes, which play a significant role in explaining such a relationship. Although the study employed a modified theory of planned behaviour in a celebrity involvement study, the findings have broadened the understanding and its applicability in the context of a developing country.