TUT Forum Tackles Graduate Unemployment With Work Experience

South African graduates face one of the world's highest unemployment rates, yet a government initiative announced at a Tshwane University of Technology forum on 2 November 2026 aims to create 20,000 employment opportunities specifically for young graduates. That figure framed the day's central question: what separates graduates who find work from those who do not?

The TUT Department of Economics convened the Industry Engagement and Graduate Employability Forum to close the gap between academic learning and industry expectations. Students met representatives from KPMG, Discovery, Absa and Rethinking Economics for Africa in a panel discussion held under the theme "Skills for a Changing Economy: Preparing Economics Graduates for the World of Work."

What did the faculty leadership say?

Prof Polly Mashigo, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Finance, pointed to Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) as the faculty's principal bridge from lecture hall to workplace. Her claim carried evidence of outcomes.

"Our students are receiving internships and ultimately permanent employment through WIL. I am appealing to our industry partners and companies that are here to please open their doors to our graduates," Mashigo said.

She also addressed Artificial Intelligence directly. AI is reshaping routine tasks in financial institutions and other organisations, she acknowledged, but she cautioned students against dependence on it.

"AI is reshaping routine tasks in financial institutions and other organisations, but what is particularly important is that you must possess the ability to interpret and question data. Do not only rely on AI. You must be a self-discoverer and a problem-solver," she said.

She further encouraged students to look beyond employment and explore how to use their knowledge to create their own opportunities.

Why does work experience decide hiring outcomes?

Prof Mulatu Zerihun, Head of the Department of Economics, named the specific barrier: graduates lose job opportunities because they lack practical work experience. TUT introduced WIL, he explained, precisely to let students accumulate that experience while still studying.

"Students are denied job opportunities because of a lack of work experience. So, TUT introduced Work-Integrated Learning, which gives students a platform to acquire experience while they are still studying," Zerihun said.

He added a caveat to any hiring success. Securing a work opportunity is only the beginning; graduates must then demonstrate the skills and character that permanent employment demands. Professional relationships, determination and collaboration with others, he argued, strongly influence access to further opportunities.

What did the keynote speaker advise?

Ornica Mukhavhuli, Group CEO at Sensation Global Holdings and founder of African Skills Academy and African Implementation Management Services, drew on her own post-qualification experience. Her positive attitude, she said, has consistently opened opportunities for her, and she urged students to approach every chance with enthusiasm.

Her most concrete guidance was a 90-day rule. The first three months of employment, she stressed, establish a graduate's professional reputation.

"Treat your first 90 days at work as your final exam, because we are watching. If you fail to impress an employer in 90 days, then you are already classified," Mukhavhuli said.

She also directed students to the "To the Power of x²" government website, where they can create profiles and apply for the internships tied to the 20,000-opportunity target.

The panel closed by stressing interpersonal skills and adaptability as hiring differentiators. What the forum did not quantify is how many of the 20,000 promised opportunities will reach economics graduates specifically; students would do well to treat that target as a ceiling rather than a guarantee.