A Study Regarding the Gap between the Industry and Academia Expectations for College Student's Employability

Abstract

Cultivating the employability of students is one goal of the pursuit of higher education. In order to improve the performance of university education, the employability of graduates must be enhanced. The purpose of this study is to find the industry and academia's views on employability expected of graduates and the gap between the industry and academia in order to put forward suggestions for improvement, with the focus groups method as the research method. Research results show: The industry attaches greater importance to employability. The 'specific skill and knowledge related abilities' dimension includes 'computer skills (word processing, professional software application and program writing)', and 'applying rules and regulations'; the 'general abilities' dimension includes 'working under pressure'; the 'behavior/attitude qualities' dimension includes 'initiative', 'adaptability', 'loyalty, integrity', and 'tolerance, appreciation of different points of view'. © 2018 IEEE.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Higher education employability Graduate Academic gaps Focus group interviewing

Index Keywords

High educations Students employability Performance Focus Groups graduate Application programs College students University education Word processing Academic gap Focus group interviewing Focus group method

Author Affiliations

Graduate Institute of Technological and Vocational Education, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Business Administration, Hwa Hsia University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Graduate Institute of Technological and Vocational Education, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Business Administration, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Department of Industrial Education and Technology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Changhua, Taiwan

Department of Marketing and Logistics Management, National Penghu University of Science and Technology, Makung, Penghu, Taiwan

Funding & Acknowledgements

Ministry of Science and Technology, MOST

Grant: MOST 106-2511-S-230-003

The authors would like to acknowledge and are deeply grateful for research project budget subsidy of the Ministry of Science and Technology - MOST 106-2511-S-230-003 and MOST 106-2511-S-027-003-MY3.

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, MOST

Grant: 106-2511-S-230-003, MOST 106-2511-S-027-003-MY3

The authors would like to acknowledge and are deeply grateful for research project budget subsidy of the Ministry of Science and Technology - MOST 106-2511-S-230-003 and MOST 106-2511-S-027-003-MY3.

References 10 References

1 Feldmann, Louisa, Considerations in the design of WBL settings to enhance students' employability: A synthesis of individual and contextual perspectives, Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning, 6, 2, pp. 131-145, (2016)

2 Taiwan Educational Review Monthly, (2017)

3 Wickramasinghe, Vathsala M., Graduates', university lecturers' and employers' perceptions towards employability skills, Education and Training, 52, 3, pp. 226-244, (2010)

4 Technology and Manpower Education Quarterly, (2015)

5 Employability Developing A Framework for Policy Analysis, (1998)

6 Qenani, Eivis, An empirical study of self-perceived employability: Improving the prospects for student employment success in an uncertain environment, Active Learning in Higher Education, 15, 3, pp. 199-213, (2014)

7 Taiwan Education Review, (2014)

8 Fugate, Mel, Employability: A psycho-social construct, its dimensions, and applications, Journal of Vocational Behavior, 65, 1, pp. 14-38, (2004)

9 Sanders, Jos M.A.F., Training, task flexibility and the employability of low-skilled workers, International Journal of Manpower, 25, 1, pp. 73-142, (2004)

10 Hazenberg, Richard, Programme recruitment and evaluation: the effect of an employability enhancement programme on the general self-efficacy levels of unemployed graduates, Journal of Education and Work, 28, 3, pp. 273-300, (2015)

A Study Regarding the Gap between the Industry and Academia Expectations for College Student's Employability

How to Cite