World Bank MD Urges Students to Build Skills Beyond Their Degrees
The Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group, Paschal Donohoe, has urged students to view their university degrees as their starting point in their professional journey rather than their final destination.
Speaking at the University of Ghana on the Topic “Building Skills, Creating Jobs and Empowering Ghana’s Future” on Monday , March 16,2026 as part of his first time visit to West Africa since his visit ,Mr. Donohoe stressed that long-term success in today’s economy depends more on continuously developing skills such as critical thinking, communication, and the ability to learn new knowledge.
According to him, these skills are not completed at graduation but must be built throughout one’s career to ensure one achieves long term success.
“First, your degree is your starting point. It’s not your destination. The skills that will determine your journey in life of critical thinking, of communication, of the ability to learn what you do not yet know, they’re built, they are developed continuously.They don’t come to an end at graduation. “ he stated
Mr. Donohoe added that the most valuable professionals in the modern economy are those who can combine different areas of knowledge and bridge disciplines.
Mr. Donohoe also noted that individuals who can apply technical expertise to real-world problems, while also exercising human judgment in areas often dominated by technology and algorithms, will have a significant advantage in the job market.
“Second, the most valuable professionals in this new economy are those who can bridge worlds. Who bring technical knowledge to problems that others approach only with intuition or who can bring human judgement to domains that others can only see through algorithms.
A combination of disciplines, of languages, a combination of contexts is a competitive asset. “
He also urged students to explore opportunities beyond traditional employment paths, stating that many emerging sectors are creating new demand for skilled professionals. He then identified agribusiness and the creative economy as areas with growing opportunities for analytically capable and innovative individuals.
Mr. Donohoe further encouraged young graduates to be willing to build their own career paths instead of waiting for perfect job opportunities to emerge.
“ And then don’t wait for the perfect formal job to appear. Your most dynamic opportunities are often in sectors that have yet to have established hiring plans.
Agribusiness, the creative economy, these are generating real demand for people who are analytically capable and highly skilled. Be willing to build your own path, don’t always follow one.”
The World Bank executive concluded by reaffirming the World Bank Group’s continued commitment to supporting Africa’s development and expanding opportunities for young people across the continent.
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