Many young graduates are struggling to find jobs and career growth opportunities in this highly competitive job market because they don’t have work experience required by prospective employers. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Statistics South Africa found that the total number of unemployed youths increased to 4.7 million.
To address the high youth unemployment challenge, UVU Bio, a specialised impact organisation dedicated to enabling Africa’s bioeconomy sector, is creating opportunities for graduates to acquire industry relevant experience and skills to become employable.
Over the years, UVU Bio’s Skills Development programmes have empowered over 100 bioprocessing graduates and facilitated over 60 job placements. One of the many graduates that were upskilled by UVU Bio and empowered to be innovative is Tumelo Ramaili. After graduating from the University of Western Cape with a degree in biotechnology, he looked for job opportunities to solidify his academic knowledge and gain hands-on experience, but he kept getting rejected; that’s until he discovered UVU Bio.
Discovering UVU Bio
“UVU Bio stood out for me because they focus on developing practical experience for graduates,” Tumelo shared. After successfully navigating the intense interview process, he was happy to finally join the biotechnology sector and gain practical experience.
He became part of UVU Bio’s ecosystem by joining the UVU Bio’s Skills Development programme; an initiative that equips graduates with the knowledge and expertise needed to excel in the biotechnology industry. While at UVU Bio he gained technical training in advanced biotech courses and new skills and knowledge. “When I started at UVU Bio, everything just clicked. I knew that’s where I belonged.”
UVU Bio gave him an opportunity to gain practical work experience, and he also learnt from leading industry professionals. Some of his highlights include being exposed to a range of disciplines such as chemical engineering, molecular biology, and microbiology. This multidisciplinary environment allowed Tumelo to gain insights from various fields, ultimately inspiring him to develop his own innovative research.
Formulating His Innovation
With the new skills and knowledge gained at UVU Bio, Tumelo focused on developing bioprocessing applications for indigenous plants, harnessing their medicinal properties in more efficient ways. He identified a significant challenge in the emerging medicinal cannabis industry: “I recognised a mismatch between the growing demand for cannabis and what farmers could produce,” he explained. “This inspired my innovation, which uses advanced bioprocessing techniques to produce medicinal compounds without relying solely on traditional farming methods, offering a more sustainable and scalable solution.”
Drawing from his training in chemical engineering and pharmacology, Tumelo crafted a proposal that showcased the commercial potential of his research, which eventually led him to enter the Bio Centrifuge Africa competition. The competition provided bio-entrepreneurs and innovators an opportunity to pitch and showcase their innovations. Tumelo entered because he wanted to stand a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to the BioHealth Crab Trap competition in the United States of America and complimentary access to UVU Bio Labs, amongst other prizes. The competition was the first of its kind competition in South Africa and this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
A Leap of Faith
Despite his nerves, Tumelo stepped onto the competition stage, where only five candidates from across the country were selected to present their research. “I didn’t think I would make it to the top five, so it was a huge confidence boost when I did,” he said. The competition was intense, with high-profile industry leaders watching closely. Ultimately, Tumelo came second place in the competition; a big win for this young graduate.
Looking to the Future
Winning the competition has fuelled Tumelo’s ambition to take his innovation further. “My goal is to explore commercialisation and find partners who can help bring my research to market,” he stated, underscoring the importance of collaboration across various fields.
As a young black bio scientist, Tumelo acknowledges there are many challenges that young graduates must overcome. “Finding opportunities can be tricky,” he admitted. “That’s why organisations like UVU Bio are vital—they provide the practical skills and experience that make graduates employable.”
Advice for young bioscience graduate
Reflecting on his journey, Tumelo highlighted the importance of working in multidisciplinary environments. “Don’t just collaborate with people in your field, this approach will broaden your perspective and enrich your work”. In Tumelo Ramaili, we see how UVU Bio equips emerging talents with the skills and confidence they need to navigate the complexities of the biotechnology landscape. As he sets his sights on commercialisation, there’s no doubt that his innovative spirit and practical expertise will lead him to even greater heights in the future.