The transition from the lecture hall to the workplace has never been more important, as youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges.

To reduce unemployment, Unam and Transfigured Academy have signed a five-year strategic agreement for student internships and work-integrated learning and leadership development opportunities.

The partnership will allow students and graduates to gain practical, real-world experience across multiple economic sectors, complementing their academic training and preparing them for the workplace demands.

UNAM Vice Chancellor Kenneth Matengu emphasised that a qualification alone does not necessarily equal competence.

“You can’t just have qualifications without experience and expect to be competent. You are competent when you have both qualifications and experience. Internship opportunities provide that experience. I am a product of that myself. I was an intern at this university for three years—three good years. And so, I know what it means to be given an opportunity.”

Professor Matengu also called on African higher education institutions to promote knowledge sovereignty by developing local solutions capable of driving socio-economic progress across the continent.

The five-year agreement is already moving from paper into practice, with the first cohort of 15 UNAM students having been placed in internships across various sectors since April this year.

Transfigured Academy founder Daniel Caleb said the academy's mission is to bridge the gap between academic education and the demands of the marketplace.

“We had this idea of helping the next generation achieve their goals and bridge the gap between what students want to achieve and do in life and finding opportunities in the marketplace to make those aspirations a reality. For us, this day truly marks the realisation of a dream we had, which has now become a reality. We are very grateful to be able to do this with you, UNAM, and with your support through this partnership, where we can find solutions together and truly make a difference for the next generation.”