Exploring challenges affecting youth unemployment in Uganda
Every summer, Cornell graduate students travel the globe to conduct field research. This is the fourth story in a series about graduate student summer field work. Tess Lallemant is a doctoral student in applied economics and management whose summer research focused on youth unemployment in Kampala, Uganda.
Describe the location of your research.
My summer research was in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
What’s the focus of your research?
The focus of my research is to investigate the challenges and factors affecting youth unemployment, particularly among university students in Uganda, with the goal of identifying potential solutions and improving employment outcomes.
Doing summer research allowed me to directly connect with key stakeholders…providing important insights into the details of the education and labor market systems. I would not have been able to learn so much through classes alone.
What do you hope will be the impact of this work?
By gaining a broader understanding of the context and experiences of university students and their transition into the labor market, I hope my research will contribute to developing effective strategies and interventions to reduce youth unemployment rates.
How will summer research advance your understanding of your research in a way that classes or theory does not?
This scoping visit allowed me to directly connect with key stakeholders such as administrators, bureaucrats, professors, students and alumni, providing important insights into the details of the education and labor market systems. I would not have been able to learn so much through classes alone.
What has surprised you about your experience?
I was surprised by the importance of networking during this process. A single conversation often led to a network of new connections and opportunities for further insights, highlighting the importance of personal interactions in research and the potential for new research questions.
How did Cornell programs and/or faculty mentors help connect you with the opportunity to carry out summer research in Uganda?
Cornell’s programs and faculty mentors have been instrumental in facilitating this experience. Their support and advice and funding from the Graduate School and the Einaudi Center were crucial in allowing me to go on this scoping visit and carry out my research effectively.
What would you say to students considering applying to Cornell for grad school?
For students considering applying to Cornell for grad school, I would emphasize the institution’s strong support of students’ efforts to conduct research. Cornell provides great resources to help with the research process, including some financial support for travel costs, as well as for professional development through conferences and summer schools.
