Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, THE GAMBIA) – The Tertiary and Higher Education Trust Fund (THET Fund) has selected 77 graduates from public tertiary and higher education institutions across The Gambia for its Internship and Apprenticeship Program, aimed at helping young people gain practical work experience and improve their employment prospects.
The graduates were selected from 216 applicants and will be placed in various organizations across several sectors, where they will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies in real workplace settings.
The program is part of the Fund’s efforts to address the gap between education and employment, particularly the challenges graduates face in securing jobs due to limited practical experience and weak links between educational institutions and industry.
Ahead of their placements, the selected graduates participated in a two-day pre-placement training under the theme “Bridging Education and Employment: Equipping Graduates with the Skills, Character, and Confidence to Thrive at Work.”
Speaking at the training, THET Fund Executive Director Dr Jorjoh Ndure-Tambedou said the initiative was designed to respond to some of the structural challenges facing the country’s higher education sector, including the disconnect between academic training and labor market demands.
She said the THET Fund Act 2025 provides the legal framework for supporting the development of tertiary and higher education through five funding windows.
Dr Ndure-Tambedou also outlined other interventions undertaken by the Fund, including the National CareerFest, which has reached more than 1,000 beneficiaries, and the construction of a bus shelter at Faraba, serving approximately 300 students daily.
Other projects include a solar-powered water facility at Lemban Skills Centre, providing services to about 100 people daily, and funding support for the accreditation of 105 academic programs in collaboration with the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA).
She further disclosed that the Fund expects to deliver 1,000 tools and pieces of equipment, connect three rural public institutions to online services, and restore two school buses by the end of December.
The internship placements will cover a range of sectors, including engineering, healthcare, banking, finance, information and communications technology, renewable energy, and manufacturing.
The initiative is being implemented as a pilot program in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, NAQAA, the National Youth Service Scheme, and participating employers.
Its effectiveness will be assessed against several indicators, including the quality of placements, skills acquired by participants, employer satisfaction, and graduate outcomes.
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology Professor Pierre Gomez described the initiative as unprecedented and emphasized the need to create more opportunities for young graduates to contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Development is now. It cannot be postponed,” he said.
Professor Gomez also disclosed that the country’s first National Internship Policy had been submitted to Cabinet, adding that a National Apprenticeship Policy would follow.
He urged the selected graduates to approach the opportunity with commitment and professionalism, stressing the importance of making the most of the experience and using the skills gained to contribute to the country’s development.
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