As Victoria University prepares for its 10th graduation ceremony on Monday and Tuesday, attention is turning not only to academic achievement but also to how effectively higher education equips graduates for employment, entrepreneurship and Uganda’s evolving labour market.
The two-day event marks a significant milestone for the institution and provides an opportunity to reflect on its growth, academic performance and contribution to national development through its graduates.
Victoria University is ranked second in the National Council for Higher Education’s Revised Institutional Ranking Report, scoring 87.4 behind Makerere University’s 88.9.
According to the report, the university offers 66 academic programmes with an average of 128.7 students per programme. The detailed ranking table places enrolment at 14,113, although another graphic in the report gives a figure of 8,494.
The ranking assesses institutions on factors including programme viability, graduate training capacity, STEM participation, gender balance and curriculum relevance.
Beyond academic rankings, universities are increasingly assessed by the impact their graduates make after leaving campus. Employment, business creation, career advancement and the practical application of skills remain key indicators of higher education’s value.
For Victoria University, the graduation ceremony offers an opportunity to showcase alumni success stories, employer feedback and examples of graduates applying their education across different sectors.
The scale of the event, including the number of graduates and qualifications being awarded, will also reflect the institution’s continued expansion.
The NCHE report shows that women account for 50.1% of Victoria University’s enrolment. STEM students represent 52.7% of the student population, with women making up 49.2% of those pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics programmes.
The figures highlight progress in access to higher education and STEM fields, particularly for women. However, enrolment data alone does not provide a complete picture of graduate employability or long-term career outcomes.
As Victoria University celebrates its 10th graduation, graduate employment rates, entrepreneurship achievements and alumni contributions across various professions will provide a clearer measure of its impact over the past decade.
While institutional rankings offer one measure of performance, the achievements of graduates ultimately demonstrate how academic training translates into economic and social value beyond the university campus.
