By ISAAC MUKANDO –
COPPERBELT University (CBU) Chancellor Muyunda Mwanalushi has called for supportive national policies for job creation.
Professor Mwanalushi said in order for job creation to occur, there was need for supportive national policies geared towards indigenous private sector growth as opposed to favouring foreign firms.
He was speaking during the African University Day Celebration and Awards Presentation Ceremony at CBU at the weekend under the theme “How can African Universities enhance capacity for job creation”.
Prof Mwanalushi said providing incentives for young entrepreneurs would allow growth in the employment sector which would be driven by enhanced capacity and growth in the university system.
He said universities remained an important institution for enhancement of capacity for job creation through constantly tracking economic and industrial trends as well as education programmes that build entrepreneurial capacities for those that graduate from universities.
Prof Mwanalushi said the role of universities was not only to create ideas but  also transfer ideas to young people so that they can use them when they  join the labour market.
“The transfer of knowledge, skills, ideas and technological innovation is part of capacity improvement role of universities in contributing to job creation through provision of excellence in education leading to graduates contribution towards economic and industrial growth,” Prof Mwanalushi said.
He said observations through various surveys conducted , indicated that the hardest hit unemployed youth were those with lower levels of education and qualifications.