In a collaborative effort to bridge the gap between education and employment, KPMG South Africa, Durban University of Technology (DUT), and UNESCO have successfully equipped more than 200 students with essential workplace skills.
The initiative, delivered through UNESCO’s Global Skills Academy (GSA), forms part of KPMG’s global commitment to economically empower 10 million disadvantaged youth by 2030.
A Strategic Partnership for Employability
The mentorship programme was hosted at DUT as a cornerstone of the university’s employability strategy.
It paired students with experienced professionals from KPMG, offering tailored guidance on workplace readiness.
The collaboration reflects a growing emphasis on public-private partnerships to address youth unemployment and skill mismatches in South Africa and beyond.
The programme’s curriculum focused on practical competencies such as CV writing, interview preparation, career planning, and professional communication.
These foundational skills are critical for young graduates entering a competitive job market and were delivered through structured mentoring sessions over several weeks.
Personal Growth Through Mentorship from KPMG, DUT and UNESCO
Beyond technical skills, the programme emphasized personal development.
Students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, build self-awareness, and develop leadership and problem-solving abilities.
Mentors used frameworks like G.R.O.W. to help participants set and achieve both professional and personal goals.
One mentee shared, “My mentor and I spoke about goal planning and that was the most beneficial part of this programme.”
They added, “I now know how to tackle all my goals effectively using the G.R.O.W. method.
The mentee stated, “Another aspect I found beneficial was CV writing—my mentor helped me correct my CV and include only essential information.”
This individualized support helped students articulate their strengths, build confidence, and navigate the job search process with greater clarity.
KPMG, DUT and UNESCO: Addressing Challenges and Ensuring Impact
Initial challenges, particularly around communication between mentors and mentees, were swiftly addressed through joint interventions by DUT and KPMG.
These adjustments led to improved engagement and a more effective learning environment.
KPMG and DUT collected feedback through pre- and post-programme surveys and interviews.
This approach ensured that the initiative remained responsive to student needs.
The results were overwhelmingly positive, with students reporting enhanced career readiness, academic motivation, and overall confidence.
Shireen Singh, programme manager from DUT’s Co-Operative Education department, noted that the pilot’s success demonstrated the potential of such collaborations to enrich the student experience and improve employment outcomes.
A Scalable Model for Youth Empowerment
The mentorship programme at DUT mirrors successful models previously piloted by UNESCO in countries like India and Italy.
These initiatives typically run in cohorts over 6–10 weeks, pairing volunteer mentors with motivated students.
The multistakeholder setup includes UNESCO’s Global Skills Academy, a local KPMG firm, and an educational institution.
UNESCO field offices and standardized training materials support this partnership.
Mel Ferlito of KPMG South Africa described the experience as “incredibly rewarding,” highlighting the alignment between DUT’s commitment to academic excellence and KPMG’s vision for inclusive impact.
Planning for the next cycle is already underway, with partners committed to refining the approach and expanding its reach.
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