Graduate Satisfaction: How Experiential Learning Supercharges Employability Skills

Abstract

The low absorption of university graduates into the labor market is a crucial issue that must be addressed, with many graduates experiencing a mismatch between their expertise and the job roles they choose. The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of employability skills in examining the effect of experiential learning on graduate learning satisfaction. This study uses a quantitative approach. Data were collected from 297 graduates of the Office Administration Education Study Program in Central Java via an online questionnaire using a 1–5 Likert scale. Data analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the warpPLS software, including validity testing, collinearity, and the relationships between variables through path coefficients. The research results support all hypotheses, showing a significant positive relationship between employability skills and graduate learning satisfaction, experiential learning and employability skills, experiential learning and graduate learning satisfaction through employability skills. The findings conclude that employability skills successfully mediate the impact of experiential learning on graduate learning satisfaction. It is recommended that educational institutions strengthen the implementation of experiential learning opportunities, such as internships and work integrated learning, to better meet the expectations of local industries and improve students’ employability skills. © (2025), (UiTM Press). All rights reserved.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Higher education Employability skills Experiential learning graduate learning satisfaction

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations

Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Funding & Acknowledgements

Universitas Negeri Semarang, UNNES

The authors would like to express their deepest gratitude to our promotor and co-promotor for their invaluable guidance and constructive feedback throughout the development of this article. Their insights have been instrumental in refining the introduction, validating the research instruments, and determining the most appropriate analytical tools for this study. The authors also extend appreciation to Universitas Negeri Semarang for providing research funding support, which has greatly contributed to the successful completion of this study. Furthermore, we are grateful to Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta for facilitating the researchers in connecting with the respondents, ensuring that the data collection process was targeted and effective.

Universitas Sebelas Maret

The authors would like to express their deepest gratitude to our promotor and co-promotor for their invaluable guidance and constructive feedback throughout the development of this article. Their insights have been instrumental in refining the introduction, validating the research instruments, and determining the most appropriate analytical tools for this study. The authors also extend appreciation to Universitas Negeri Semarang for providing research funding support, which has greatly contributed to the successful completion of this study. Furthermore, we are grateful to Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta for facilitating the researchers in connecting with the respondents, ensuring that the data collection process was targeted and effective.

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Graduate Satisfaction: How Experiential Learning Supercharges Employability Skills

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