Bridging academia and industry for employable graduates in Ethiopia: the impact of green innovation practices

Purpose This research proposes a Sustainability-Oriented Triple Helix model that explores GI as a mediating variable between UIL and graduate employability to address the “curricular divide” problem in the Ethiopian engineering sector within a global sustainability context. Design/methodology/approach The convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. In the quantitative method, 517 graduates were selected based on (proportionate stratification random sampling) and analyzed using PLS-SEM with HCM. For the qualitative component, 12 purposively selected key informants provided contextual depth and data analysis employed thematic coding. This two-pronged approach achieves statistical significance and provides expert input into the diagnosis of how and why the academia-industry gap exists. Findings The results provide evidence of the influential role of UIL on GE, which is mediated by GI. This “green bridge” shows that only when filtered through a green innovation catalyst do traditional partnerships achieve maximum impact; in this way, institutional linkages are successfully translated into sustainable labor-market outcomes. Research limitations/implications First, the focus on the engineering sector in Ethiopia raises questions about the generalizability of the findings beyond engineering or across regions. Second, cross-sectional design precludes causal claims about long-term effects, pointing to future longitudinal research that tracks how green skills and their resultant career outcomes evolve. Practical implications Universities should adopt a Green Curriculum, such as sustainable design, and establish Green Innovation Hubs. Policy makers should develop “Green Tax Rebates” for specialized internships and create multi-sectoral bodies to align educational curricula with the industrial shift toward sustainability. Social implications Promoting UIL and GI supports Ethiopia's shift toward a green economy, strengthens youth employability and fosters environmental stewardship. Originality/value The article offers an exportable model for the Global South to reconceptualize the academia–industry divide as an elemental curricular schism. It expands the Triple Helix model and places GI as an essential intermediary, providing a strategic focus for developing economies to attain climate-resilient employment results.