Contribution of life skills training to youth development at university institutions: a case of the Passport To Success Pilot Programme In Zimbabwe.

Abstract

Existing research shows that life skills are an important part of education and serve the purpose of complementing the hard and academic skills that young people get in university. This research met its crucial aim through an embedded mixed methodology research which used qualitative method research primarily with quantitative techniques allowing for description of the target sample population. This was a case study of the International Youth Foundation Passport to Success Pilot Program in two universities, The University of Zimbabwe and Women’s University in Africa. This research produced a number of key findings: that the Passport to success program can be adopted by Zimbabwean universities, but there exists potential and need to raise awareness on the PTS program and create demand for the key life skills benefits derived from the program. The pilot program was positively received and gained acceptance among young people as a refreshing yet educative intervention. The main conclusions drawn from this research were that PTS is replicable in the Zimbabwean context as a life skills program for tertiary institutions owing strengths derived from the highly structured format and teaching methodologies. There is room to further adapt the content to place emphasis on content which meets the life skills contextual needs of a young person in University.