Carvalho Madivate, General Director, Higher Institute of Science and Technology of Mozambique (ISCTEM)
• Interview
ISCTEM started in 1996 as part of a social investment project, and it has grown substantially since then. It started with four programs and now has 24. ISCTEM is gearing up to transform into a university, focusing on fields such as health sciences, business management, architecture, law, and engineering.
As ISCTEM is transitioning to become a university, how do you intend to improve the institution?
Our mission is to educate people for the future. Improving the level of our education is a constant ongoing struggle and is key to placing ourselves in a strong position in the market, given that ISCTEM does not benefit from endowments, unlike other institutions. As an educational institution, there are three key areas where we can add value: management, curriculum, and lecturers. We intend to change and improve the way we teach, the spaces we work in, and the way we interact. We are also focusing on changing the language within the institution and delivering a better internal service. Another important step for our institution is our ongoing process of decentralization, whereby we aim to empower all employees to make decisions, working toward our common goal of delivering quality education to students.
Mozambique has a high unemployment rate, which explains why many young graduates seek employment abroad. How can this trend be reversed or reduced?
Brain drain is an inevitable consequence of the current conditions of the market, which is not sustainable and fails to meet the expectations of young graduates. Stopping brain drain is not up to higher educational institutions, which are only present in a limited number. It is something that will organically happen with the growth of economic opportunities in the country. At the same time, we need our young graduates to go overseas and gain experience; it is crucial that they see what is happening in the world and understand how things can be improved in Mozambique. This way, they can add value to the economy and give back to the country.
How hard is it for young graduates to find a job?
The transition from higher education to the job market is more challenging now than it was in the past. This is due to the lack of growth in the labor market, a reflection of the economic crisis, and hyperinflation. The government is operating on a fixed budget basis, which has reduced employment opportunities in the public sector. The market has witnessed a fall in FDI, especially for the middle tier, which has hindered job creation. Despite this rather grim picture, we are seeing a slow resumption of growth and movement in the socioeconomic fabric. You can see this, for example, by looking at the number of entertainment, restoration, and cultural businesses that are changing the face of Maputo. These are indicators of new jobs being created as well as the growing purchasing power of the public. At ISCTEM, we are committed to facilitating the transition between school and work by offering a number of internships to our students. We are creating partnerships with private companies, finding ways to bring them close to the institution, and involving them in being part of the studying experience and future prospects. We are matching what we are doing as an educational institution with what the market needs in terms of competencies and demands. ✖