Work-based Learning as a Means to Foster Lifelong Learning: Views of Education Stakeholders in Eswatini

One of UNESCO's advocacy messages states that ‘lifelong learning for all is the most appropriate philosophy, conceptual framework and organising principle for learning, education and training in the 21st century’. To ensure innovative and resilient employees, companies need to integrate lifelong learning into their operations. Investing in upskilling and reskilling employees across all gender has a potential to close the ever-increasing workforce skills gap in the complex business setting. Actively learning new skills and technologies by employees is mandatory to align with sustainable development goal No 4. Work-based learning is one approach that has increased access to higher education for working adults in many parts of the world. Though still not common in Sub-Saharan Africa, this approach resonates well with the 21st century demands for skilled workforce, innovation and educational resilience. This paper discusses views of Thirty-two (32) Education stakeholders who participated in the Survey on the importance of introducing a work-based learning approach using the distance education mode to upskill industry employees at the University of Eswatini. Survey questions were sent to stakeholders and document analysis on Work-based learning as a means to upskill the workforce in engineering was done. The findings showed that stakeholders embraced work-based learning as an approach to create a skilled workforce but policies have to be in place for effective implementation.