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POLICY BRIEF article
Front. Educ.
Sec. Higher Education
Volume 10 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1546457
Governing higher education system as consumable goods for enhancing the employability of graduates in Ethiopia
Provisionally accepted
Adane Hailu Herut *
Berhanu Mekonnen Yimer 
Mesfin Molla Demissie 
Misganu Legesse Bareke 
Birhanu Haile Agzew Negash Haile Dedho Mulugeta Fufa Lebeta - Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia
The Ethiopian higher education system faces serious challenges in graduate employability, primarily due to a disconnect between academic curricula and labor market needs. Many graduates struggle to find meaningful employment, exacerbated by concerns over declining educational quality amid rapid institutional expansion. In light of these issues, this policy brief draws on findings from a three-year research project titled "Education and Development in Ethiopia." It emphasizes the urgent need for reforms in higher education, advocating for greater institutional autonomy, curriculum updates, inclusivity, and job-oriented programs that align with market demands. The brief aims to establish a structured policy framework for assessing educational outcomes, ultimately enhancing the quality of higher education in Ethiopia and better equipping graduates for success in the workforce.
Keywords: higher education, graduates, employability, Policy options, Ethiopia
Received: 16 Dec 2024; Accepted: 31 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Herut, Yimer, Demissie, Bareke, Agzew, Dedho and Lebeta. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Adane Hailu Herut, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia
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