Graduate Tracer Study of Uganda’s National Instructors College Abilonino (NICA)

This tracer study, commissioned by VVOB in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and the National Instructors College Abilonino (NICA), is the first of its kind in Uganda. It examines the employment outcomes and career trajectories of NICA graduates from cohorts 2016/17 and 2017/18, with a focus on those who entered the Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) workforce.

The report provides insights into graduates’ transition from college to employment, their self-assessment of competences, and challenges faced in registration, employment, and gender representation. Findings show that 90% of graduates transitioned into work, with just over half joining the BTVET workforce—most within six months of graduation. The study also identifies the need to strengthen dual professional identities combining pedagogical and occupational expertise, enhance access to learning materials, and address gender imbalances in technical education.