Higher education SMME curriculum to cater for the transformed cross-border trading environment in Africa: A conceptual paper.

Abstract

This paper underscores how institutions of higher learning can act as catalysts for promoting intra-Africa trade, enabling the continent to harness its vast resources and diverse markets more efficiently through curriculum transformation. By developing newformal and short learning interdisciplinary programmes in the areas related to the seven Africa Continental Free Trade protocols, higher education institutions can contribute significantly to intra-Africa trade which is currently sitting at less that 20% per annum. Using a theme-based desktop content analysis methodology, this paper identifies critical scarce skills not catered for in the 21 South African Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs). The findings show a potential for higher education institutions to increase 3rd and 4th income streams by offering multi and interdisciplinary short learning programmes (SLPs), a postgraduate diploma and a master’s programme that integrates the chief exports in South Africa. The paper concludes by discussing avenue for further research that incorporate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and practices, fostering avibrant ecosystem of innovation for the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – as it represents a transformative milestone in the economic integration of the African continent. In the epoch of globalisation, glocalisation and adroit technological advancements, the paper argues that higher education emerges as a linchpin in developing human capital, fostering innovation, and nurturing the skills required to compete in the global market. Furthermore, higher education’s role in equipping the African workforce with the necessary skills, from digital literacy to entrepreneurship, cannot be underestimated, thus it is arguably indispensable in helping AfCFTA realise its mission. The paper argues that as AfCFTA opens new horizons, African nations should prioritise investments in higher education curriculum transformation, ensuring that it caters for much needed skills in an integrated African trading space. This paper foregrounds the essentiality of higher education in unleashing the potential of AfCFTA, offering an intellectual foundation that promises to drive economic prosperity and sustainable development across the African continent.