Complex entanglements: graduate transitions in Africa's knowledge economy and beyond

Abstract

University graduates are often at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship, key drivers of the knowledge economy. Their ability to create and apply knowledge in new ways is essential for economic growth. This chapter provides a global South perspective on the diverse ways African graduates engage with the knowledge economy, focusing on their transitions from higher education into livelihood-generating activities. Drawing on a mixed-methods study involving a graduate tracer survey and qualitative research across six African countries, the chapter initially categorizes graduate transitions into four groups: employed, unemployed, studying, and entrepreneurship. Analysis reveals that graduates often combine various activities, such as work, study, and entrepreneurship, challenging the notion that their lives can be neatly categorized. The qualitative findings highlight the intricate entanglement of education and work, with “employment” encompassing a broader range of practices than traditionally understood. Many graduates also rely on multiple income streams while continuing their education, a phenomenon termed “multiple income streams and educational endeavours.“ These findings challenge the assumption that graduates primarily use their knowledge to create value. Instead, due to structural challenges, job scarcity, and the lack of social security under neoliberal capitalism, African graduates increasingly view education as a means of creating security rather than merely generating profit or value.