BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE (INTERN)
MBABANE – Advanced Assessment & Training hosted a session in Mbabane today at Sibekelo Building engaging universities, companies, and institutions on skills gaps, youth interview challenges, soft skills, and AI adaptation discussions.
The session brought together representatives from leading institutions and companies including Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, University of Eswatini, Mbabane Municipality, Eswatini Positive News, Standard Bank Eswatini and other partners to explore evolving workplace demands in Africa.
Led by Mr Mpho Phahlamohlaka, head of human resources at Advanced Assessment and Training, the presentation focused on bridging the gap between academic preparation and industry expectations in a rapidly changing digital economy.
Participants engaged in open discussions highlighting persistent challenges faced by young job seekers, especially around communication skills, adaptability, and technological literacy amid rising artificial intelligence adoption across sectors.
Speakers also noted that while many graduates possess technical qualifications, employers increasingly value soft skills such as teamwork, problem solving, emotional intelligence, and workplace readiness.
The session further explored how institutions and industry players can collaborate to strengthen training frameworks that respond to digital transformation and prepare youth for future work environments.
Advanced Assessment and Training reaffirmed its commitment to supporting more than 500 companies across Africa over two decades of service delivery in human capital development.
Attendees also reflected on real life workplace experiences shared during the dialogue, noting that many organizations are increasingly seeking candidates who can demonstrate resilience, innovation, and the ability to learn continuously in fast paced environments.
The interactive nature of the session allowed participants to raise questions on recruitment trends, AI integration in hiring processes, and the importance of continuous professional development, with facilitators encouraging practical solutions tailored to African labour markets.
The organisers emphasised that addressing youth unemployment requires coordinated efforts between academia, government, and private sector stakeholders, with a strong focus on equipping graduates with digital fluency and interpersonal competencies.
Advanced Assessment and Training also highlighted that its long standing partnerships across Africa continue to shape innovative learning approaches that align with evolving labour market demands. The organisation encouraged institutions to adopt agile training models that integrate technology driven learning, mentorship, and workplace exposure to better prepare young professionals for competitive global opportunities.
Participants expressed optimism that continued collaboration will strengthen skills development and improve employability outcomes across Eswatini and the region going forward collectively.
#SkillsDevelopment #YouthEmployment #AIandWork #EswatiniEducation
