The number of Ugandans seeking graduate education has increased significantly over the last few years, according to figures from the school of graduate studies at Makerere University.
Prof Eli Katunguka, the Director of Graduate Studies at Makerere University, says that applicants for graduate courses for the academic year 2008/2009 will hit the mark of 10,000 plus, up from an average of 3,000 applicants this academic year.
Prof Katunguka attributes the increase to the stiff competition in the Job Market.
Statistics from Enterprise Uganda suggest that for each job there are 50 potential applicants, making the job market one of the most saturated in the world.
The rush for graduate studies stems from a belief that success in education leads to a secure career and a lucrative job opportunities.
Katunguka however says that the school for undergraduate studies is well equipped to handle the courses on demand.
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Eric Mukhwana, a marketing consultant with recruitment firm Java Consulting Limited, says their experience shows that any specified job in the market attracts up to 100 plus potential applicants.
Mukhwana admits that the job market has been saturated and it's no longer a surprise to see Masters Holders rushing to apply for jobs that require diploma holders.
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Mukhwana says many people are now focusing on courses like social sciences, business administration, management, public relations, accounting, auditing and computing, which enables them to get self-employed.
He says the attraction to these courses is also powered by the low setup costs as compared to science-based enterprises which need a lot of capital investments.
Mukhwana also predicts that the service industry is bound to expand and absorb professionals with biases in the humanities than in the sciences.
