NRDC Tracer Study Dataset

Abstract

The attached dataset is for the NRDC Tracer Study that was conducted from 1st November, 2018 to 1st December, 2018, in Zambia. The online Survey Monkey tool, was administered as the method to gather information from NRDC alumni. The study was designed to generate evidence-based information to inform the content to be included in the upgraded curriculum, training tools and online training platform for NRDC. The results show that NRDC Fisheries Science alumni who participated in the study were relatively youthful, and an even mix of males and females. The public sector is a major employer for most of the alumni, suggesting a strong need to engage the private sector in ways that increase the opportunities NRDC students have to be employed by private companies. The NRDC Fisheries Science training lacks some focus as indicated by study participants. It does not prepare graduates with sufficient practical skills. The majority of the alumni called for intensification of the field attachment program so that students are equipped with more opportunities to gain practical experience. This could be a reason why so few students (or alumni) are employed by the private sector. A larger percentage of alumni who are not employed by the sector indicated that there are too few opportunities provided by the sector to employ them, although a major reason why youth are unable to find jobs after graduating was reported as due to having limited experience. Issues of gender discrimination in the way jobs are offered were only reported among female alumni study participants. A good proportion of the alumni study participants feels that the Government does not prioritize jobs creation, training, or creation of other opportunities (e.g., cooperatives) for the sector targeting youth and/or women. This resonates as the Government recently started the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development (ZAED) project that aims to explicitly address youth and women integration in the sector.