World Bank Group

12/12/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/12/2024 16:36

Tunisia: Targeted Programs Match Higher Education Graduates with Quality Jobs

Finding a job after graduating from university can be daunting for many young people in Tunisia. However, the Tunisia Tertiary Education for Employability Project, also known as "Promesse" ("Promise" in French), is helping by providing more targeted training and matching skills with employers' needs.

The project supports over 600 innovative Quality Support Programs, or PAQs, across Tunisia that focus on aligning training with market needs, improving campus life, fostering research, and modernizing education management.

One such PAQ working to provide opportunities for thousands of students and professors is the is Centre de Carrières et de Certification des Compétences, or "4C".

"I got a job right after my final project presentation. The CEO was there and congratulated me, asking if I could start the next day!" Sarra, a 23-year old recent Tunisian graduate, reflected on her recent career journey. With thanks to a certification program and placement facilitation from a World Bank-supported program, she was able to able to translate her bachelor's degree in Machining and Computer-Aided Manufacturing into a role at a prestigious company.

For Samar, a 26-year-old engineering graduate and TEEP beneficiary based in Sfax, 4C was more than a center or institution; it was a gateway to personal and professional growth. Through the center, she obtained essential certifications, significantly enhancing her resume. Additionally, her success in a 4C competition was rewarded by an internship opportunity at at a lab Leipzig, Germany.

"The 4C training I received and the opportunities it unlocked have truly shaped me into the professional I am today," she said, adding that her coordinator at the center played a pivotal role. "She encouraged me to join the competition that led me to Germany and helped me find a job at Telnet, a Tunisian company operating in the Aerospace, Automotive, and Telecommunications sectors."

Samar Ghannem has a degree in engineering electronics and benefitted from training along with studying.

Another PAQ, the Higher Institute for Technological Studies, partners with industrial giants in key sectors like Mechanics, Avionics, and Automotive to develop programs that directly address industry demands and match graduates with these needs. Such PAQs boast nearly 100% employment rates among graduates. Beyond job placement, these programs help graduates to earn higher starting salaries and opportunities for engagement with multinational corporations.

A similar program in the city of Sousse also demonstrated remarkable success through its three master's degree programs in Plastics Processing and Composite Materials, Digital Engineering and Control of Connected Systems, and Industrial Metrology and Quality Control. Called ISET Sousse, this institute has effectively leveraged work-study internships to strengthen students' connections with industrial firms, resulting in job opportunities for almost everyone upon completing their program.

Imene, a graduate from ISET Sousse's co-constructed master's degree program, shares a similar experience to Sarra's. "Through the program, I completed an internship and was offered a job by the company a few weeks after graduation," she said.

The Tertiary Education for Employability Project (TEEP), set to close on December 31, 2024, has made substantial progress towards its goals of improving tertiary education student employability and strengthening higher education management. The project has benefited over 22,000 students through certifications, new degree courses, and career and certification centers. Key achievements include creating over 40 industry-linked degree programs, implementing over 60 graduate tracer studies, and launching performance-based funding for 5 public universities.

While graduates in Tunisia in past years faced many challenges in finding jobs after graduating from university, PAQs through the Promesse program that have coupled education with industry skills and experience have enabled students like Samar, Sarra, and Imene's to have different success stories and provide a brighter future. These collaborative initiatives have been transformative, not only for students' lives, but for the private sector industries who need specific and more updated skills and are now finding them.