Last modified: 2019-08-02
Abstract
Policy makers have questioned the ability of universities to equip students with the skills and competence needed by employers. The study employed 200 managers who have worked with and supervised undergraduate students to explore the adequacy of the employability skills of the fresh graduates. The result form the study confirmed the general notion that graduate students do not meet the basic employability skills expected of employers. Using the paired t-test as the main analytical tool, the key findings are that whilst the employers perceive that the graduate students possess the following critical skills needed mostly in industry (e.g., knowledge, enterprise leadership, team working and technical management), the students fell short in all of them from the expectations of the employers. The differences were statistically significant indicating that there are still gaps between what higher education is offering its students and what industry expect from graduates at the entry level. The implications of the findings on theory, practice and public policy are suggested.
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