UN University Releases study on Tech Skills in Sudan

The Maastricht Economic and social Research institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU‐MERIT) last month released its “Assessment of skill and technology indicators at the macro‐micro levels in Sudan.”

The research uses new primary data from macro and firm surveys and provides a new contribution by examining five hypotheses on the causes and consequences of low skill and technology indicators at the macro and micro levels in Sudan:

First- that the interaction between the deficient educational system – caused by low quality of education- and the high share of unskilled workers leads to poor provision of training; low skill levels; skills mismatch; low transfer of knowledge/external schooling effect; weak technology indicators and dependence on foreign technologies at the micro level.
Second- that the poor local technology indicators/indigenous capability to build the local technology and heavy dependence on foreign technology can be attributed to lack of R&D activities/efforts, due to a lack of funding, low skill levels, weak linkages, lack of networks systems and collaboration between universities and industry/firms, low transfer of knowledge and a lack of entrepreneur perspective.
Third- that the transfer of knowledge/external schooling effects is successful at the micro level but unsuccessful at the macro level due to low educational qualifications and deficient educational and training systems.
Fourth- that skill and technology indicators are significantly determined by firm size and industry.
Fifth- concerns the consistency of upskilling plans at the macro-micro levels.

Finally, one advantage and interesting element in the analysis is a new contribution to the Sudanese literature, explaining the causes, consequences and interaction between the low skill and technology indicators and the transfer of knowledge. Recommendations include further efforts to improve skill and technology indicators and transfer of knowledge at the macro and micro levels which are all essential for economic growth and development in Sudan.