Universities have been urged to re-align their academic training programmes in readiness to accommodate students who will be produced through the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) in the coming years.

Several professors told the varsities that they must relook into their academic curriculum to explore practical skills rather than dwelling on theories as the world comes to terms with talent search and honing of such skills from infancy to the university level.

Prof Humphrey Obora, the Secretary General of World Talents Academy and Founder of African Talent Campus and Caleb Nyanguono, Secretary General of the Kenya Universities Performing Arts, Dance, Music and Elocution made the call as they inducted more than 300 students in arts and music drawn from 78 public universities in Kenya

The dons noted that the shift from theory-based learning to practical skills testing has become an urgent and a necessary transformation in higher education, particularly as universities adapt to the evolving demands of the global workforce.

The duo urged academic institutions to reassess and realign their curricula to better equip students with the practical skills that are increasingly required in today’s dynamic professional environments.

“The traditional education model has been increasingly criticised for its inability to prepare graduates for the practicalities of the job market, especially in fields that demand hands-on experience, technical proficiency, and problem-solving abilities,” noted Obora.

Obora said the gap between academic knowledge and practical application has prompted a re-evaluation of what students truly need to succeed.

“The shift toward competency-based learning and skills testing responds to a growing recognition that success in the workforce is determined not only by what a graduate