On Monday, April 13, 2026, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) took a decisive step toward strengthening graduate employability with the launch of its Digital CV Builder – an initiative that reflects a broader shift in how African universities are preparing students for the world of work. 

The launch, held at the New Academic Board Chamber on UCC’s campus, marked a tangible outcome of The Education Collaborative’s Systems Change Program for Employability (SCP-E), an 18-month initiative designed to help universities rethink and strengthen the systems that shape student career readiness. 

A Systems Approach to Employability 

Through SCP-E, seven institutions have engaged over 40,000 students, supported by $70,000 in grants aimed at driving institutional change. Rather than focusing on isolated interventions, the program equips universities to build sustainable, student-centered systems that improve graduate outcomes at scale. 

At UCC, this approach has culminated in a practical, technology-driven solution.  

Commenting on the novelty of the builder, Dr, Dr. Edward Nii Amar Amarteifio, Director of the Design Thinking and Innovation Hub (d-Hub), notes, “It is the beginning of a new approach to preparing our students for the world of work – one that combines innovation, accessibility, and real impact.” 

Solving a Persistent Gap 

Despite strong academic training, many universities across the continent continue to face a familiar challenge: students often struggle to translate their experiences into compelling, professional CVs. 

The UCC Digital CV Builder addresses this directly. The platform enables students to input their information through a guided interface and generate structured, professional CVs in multiple formats – reducing inconsistencies in formatting, improving clarity, and aligning outputs with employer expectations. 

Prof. Daniel Apak, Dean of Students at UCC, says the tool responds to long-standing need: 

“In this day and age of technology, we should be able to come out with such tools to assist with the preparation of competitive CVs… This will go a long way to help our students.” 

Beyond convenience, the platform introduces standardization – an often overlooked but critical factor in employability. By creating a recognizable “UCC CV style,” the university is positioning its graduates more strategically in the job market. 

Student – Centered, Technology – Enabled 

Designed with usability in mind, the system allows students to generate CVs quickly while maintaining control over their content. Importantly, the platform integrates AI only as a guide – not a substitute – ensuring authenticity remains central. 

As Evans Ankomah, ICT Assistant and technical lead, explains, the system is “95% student-driven,” with AI playing a limited, supportive role. 

Students are already beginning to see the platform’s impact. For postgraduate student Sandra Awolusor, it offers a distinct edge in an increasingly competitive job market: 

“Your CV ultimately speaks on your behalf… This is the moment to make full use of this tool and build a strong foundation for your career.” 

What makes this initiative particularly significant is not just its local impact, but its potential for replication. 

UCC is already signaling its intent to share its model with the University of Rwanda, reflecting one of the Education Collaborative’s core principles: that meaningful progress in African higher education can be accelerated through institutional collaboration and sharing of proven practices. 

The CV Builder is also notable as the first of its kind in the West African corridor, positioning UCC as a leader in digital employability infrastructure. 

The launch reflects a broader shift across institutions engaged in SCP-E, moving away from fragmented career support to more coordinated, system-wide approaches Inspired in part by models such as Ashesi University , where employability outcomes are closely tracked and embedded into the student experience , UCC is developing its own context-specific approach, grounded in data, innovation, and institutional ownership.   

As the platform evolves through future phases to include distance learners, alumni, and staff, it demonstrates what becomes possible when universities invest beyond academic excellence in ways that directly strengthen student employability.