Degrees are not an end in themselves and must add value

By Mwangi Wanjumbi

The month of August is synonymous with many negative events in our history. We lost our founding President in the same month. Much later, we lost a sitting Vice President.

It is also not lost on us that in a similar month; the country experienced the worst terrorist activity ever through bombing of the former American Embassy.

At the moment, the country is going through the worst water and power crises to ever be experienced in any month of August. All is not lost though, in this dark month as it is sometimes labelled.

August is also synonymous with graduation ceremonies in private and public universities in Kenya. Many academic milestones are marked by many knowledge hungry Kenyans.

Hawks in the sky

Incidentally, there is neither age limit for graduating candidates nor gender discrimination.

The areas of study are as numerous as the graduands. This effectively means there is knowledge galore every August.

This "the power to read" is transformational if properly employed.

Like a hawk in the sky, the graduates can see the world from an advantaged position and should immediately start making a difference in the world.

The reality is, however, somewhat disappointing.

It appears most of the knowledge largely goes into passing final exams. The application becomes another matter all together.

Graduates take the next natural step — looking for formal employment — period.

The majority slip into our presumed national mindset whereby an education is merely supposed to enable us secure formal employment.

This is sad in a nation where unemployment levels are at an all-time high and signs are that the situation can only get worse.

Textbook theories

Worse still, the graduates who finally become the force behind industrial and organisational development perceive knowledge as an end in itself.

The textbook theories are never integrated in practical situations and focus is lost.

Graduating students must realise society looks upon them to make a difference in the world around them, by devising ways of incorporating theories to practice, rather than complacently conforming to existing situations.

They will at the minimum need to be creative, analytical and critical thinkers, if they are to be positive change agents.

—The writer is a management consultant and trainer at Newtimes Business Solutions.