By Nomsa Dlamini (Intern)
EZULWINI – A landmark internship programme designed to bridge the gap between academic training and industry demands is transforming how Eswatini construction graduates prepare for the job market. The programme was officially launched at Happy Valley Hotel, where stakeholders gathered to celebrate the success and impact of the initiative.
The Construction Industry Council (CIC), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP), placed 17 graduate interns with seven local construction firms between September 2024 and March 2025.
Speaking on behalf of CIC, Catherine Motsa described the internship as a strategic intervention aimed at preparing young professionals for the evolving demands of Eswatini’s construction sector. “We are not just placing graduates in companies, we are building a future-ready workforce that is agile, technically skilled, and digitally empowered,” she said.
The Interns were placed in various roles: 60% served as engineering trainees, while the rest were distributed between assistant quantity surveyors and quality assurance officer assistants. The programme focused on providing practical, on-site exposure supported by mentorship and real-time project involvement.
Interns reported substantial growth in management, safety, digital, technical, and soft skills. However, challenges were also noted, particularly in project management, software use, and hands-on readiness, pointing to areas where further development is needed.
Catherine Motsa highlighted that these challenges offer insight into how institutions and training providers can better align academic instruction with workplace realities. “This partnership shows the importance of curriculum recalibration and structured field training in building a competent and competitive workforce,” she added.
The successful absorption rate and enthusiastic support from participating firms are seen as a sign of strong industry confidence. CIC and UNDP plan to use the feedback from this pilot phase to strengthen future internship cycles, with a sharper focus on digital tools and construction technology.
The Initiative is not just about work experience, it represents a shift toward producing graduates who are not only employable, but who can lead and innovate in the sector. The CIC-UNDP collaboration is setting a new standard for skills development and graduate readiness in Eswatini’s infrastructure landscape.
