Career Development Association of Kenya (CDAK) intends to hold its 2nd National
Conference this year under the theme: Leveraging on Career Guidance and
Development to Enhance Lifelong Transitions and Youth Employability amid
Education Reforms in Kenya. CDAK held the first national career guidance conference
in December, 2020 which focused on operationalization, strengthening and
harmonization of career guidance and development practice in Kenya.
The 2nd National Conference on Career Guidance & Development 2023 aims to address
the pressing issue of youth employability and lifelong transitions amidst education
reforms in Kenya. The conference will bring together local and international experts,
stakeholders and thought leaders to deliberate on the role of career guidance and
development as a strategy in enhancing lifelong transitions and youth employability
in Kenya.
CDAK is a registered membership association of career guidance and development
practitioners in Kenya. Its purpose is to advocate and promote lifelong
professionalism in Career Guidance and Development. Its membership is drawn from
the education sector, private practitioners, consultants, corporate organizations, not
for profit organizations among others.
The persistent challenge of youth employability remains a critical concern in
developing countries. In Kenya the youth (15 – 34-year-olds) who form 35% of the
Kenyan population face a significant challenge of youth unemployment. Industry
reports show that the youth unemployment rate is 67% compared to the overall
unemployment rate of 12.7% in the country. This can be attributed to weak skills
development and poor transition from secondary education to tertiary education.
Thus, education essentially provides the basis of skills development for economic
development.
According to Kenya’s placement body, (Kenya Universities and Colleges Central
Placement Service -KUCCPS) the transition rate of secondary school graduates (2022
cohort) to vocational training, technical institutions, or universities was 32% during
the 2023/2024 placement cycle. Further, the Economic Survey indicates a transition
rate of only 30% from secondary to post-secondary education over the last 5 years,
leaving a substantial 70% unaccounted for. This has a significant impact on youth
employability because many youths enter the labor market without adequate skills or
direction. career uncertainty, lack of career resources, and inadequate career guidance
among others contribute to this issue.
In view of these, CDAK acknowledges that career guidance and development is an
essential service for planning and managing careers and transitions across lifespan. It
is in this regard that CDAK has organized the 2nd National Career Guidance Conference
to create awareness, share knowledge and advocate for career guidance and
development as a tool to enhance lifelong transitions and youth employability in Kenya.
The Annual National Conference on Career Guidance 2023, under the theme
Leveraging on Career Guidance and Development to Enhance Lifelong Transitions
and Youth Employability amid Education Reforms in Kenya, aims to bring together
educators, experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to address the pressing
issues of lifelong transitions and youth employability.
The conference will serve as a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best
practices, ultimately to chart a strategic action towards enhanced use of career
guidance and development across lifespan in Kenya.
The conference aims to achieve the following objectives.
The 2nd National Conference on Career Guidance & Development 2023 will focus on the
role of career guidance in enhancing lifelong transitions and youth employability. It
will explore challenges, opportunities, best practices and strategies related to career
guidance and development space.
The 2nd National Conference on Career Guidance 2023 will cover the following key
concepts:
The 2nd National Conference on Career Guidance & Development 2023 will adopt a mix
of physical and online participation to ensure wider engagement. It will include
keynote speeches, expert panel discussions, interactive workshops, case studies, and
presentations of research findings.
The 2nd National Conference on Career Guidance & Development 2023 is expected to
result in the following outcomes:
The 2nd National Conference on Career Guidance 2023 will take place on 6th and 7th
December, 2023 at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). The
event will involve both physical and online participation to accommodate diverse
stakeholders.
The Career Development Association of Kenya (CDAK) is a key organizer of the
conference. The event will collaborate with like-minded partners drawn from local and
international organizations, government agencies, private sector, and educational sectors
to ensure comprehensive and meaningful engagements.
The success of the conference will be evaluated based on the achievement of the
outlined objectives and outcomes. A follow-up plan will be established to monitor the
implementation of action items and recommendations. A post-conference report will
be published to disseminate key insights and findings.
The 2nd National Conference on Career Guidance & Development 2023, with the theme
"Leveraging on Career Guidance and Development to Enhance Lifelong
Transitions and Youth Employability amid Education Reforms in Kenya", targets
the pressing matters of lifelong transition and youth employability. Through
collaborative efforts and engagement of experts, stakeholders, and policymakers,
CDAK aims to create awareness, share knowledge and advocate for career guidance and
development as a tool to enhance lifelong transitions and youth employability in Kenya.
The participants will be drawn from the following and not limited to: