Inclusion at university, transition to employment and employability of graduates with disabilities: A systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review explores what has been studied about graduates with disabilities and their academic university and work experience. In the study, 18 articles were analysed and the voices of a total of 664 graduates with disabilities from different international contexts were considered. The results were organised around the research questions that guided the review: the characteristics of the studies in terms of country, participant profile, methodology, and the topics investigated on graduates and higher education (university inclusion, transition to employment and labour market insertion). This systematic review shows that there are a number of factors that enable graduates to continue and successfully complete their studies and facilitate their integration into the world of work. The conclusions show the important role that universities play in helping graduates to face the barriers they encounter in their academic careers. Furthermore, they claim to guide and prepare graduates with disabilities during their professional experiences. © 2022 The Authors

Keywords

Author Keywords

Systematic review Higher education Transition to Employment labour market insertion Graduates with disabilities Inclusive university

Index Keywords

Employment higher education university sector academic performance disability methodology labor market

Author Affiliations

Department of Teaching and Educational Organization, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Seville, Spain

Funding & Acknowledgements

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, MCIU

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain , State Research Agency and FEDER funds European Union (grant numbers PID2020-112761RB-100 / Feder Funds).

European Commission, EC

Grant: PID2020-112761RB-100

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain , State Research Agency and FEDER funds European Union (grant numbers PID2020-112761RB-100 / Feder Funds).

European Commission, EC

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain , State Research Agency and FEDER funds European Union (grant numbers PID2020-112761RB-100 / Feder Funds).

Federación Española de Enfermedades Raras, FEDER

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain , State Research Agency and FEDER funds European Union (grant numbers PID2020-112761RB-100 / Feder Funds).

References 10 References

1 Andrewartha, Lisa, Employability and student equity in higher education: The role of university careers services, Australian Journal of Career Development, 26, 2, pp. 71-80, (2017)

2 Batchelor, Rachel, Student perspectives on mental health support and services in the UK, Journal of Further and Higher Education, 44, 4, pp. 483-497, (2020)

3 Bellacicco, Rosa, After higher education: exploring the transition to employment for graduates with disabilities, Alter, 14, 3, pp. 159-174, (2020)

4 Biggeri, Mario, Disability and higher education: assessing students’ capabilities in two Italian universities using structured focus group discussions, Studies in Higher Education, 45, 4, pp. 909-924, (2020)

5 Brendle, Janna L., Quality job indicators for individuals with learning disabilities, Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 71, 2, pp. 201-217, (2019)

6 Cage, Eilidh, Expectations and experiences of the transition out of university for students with mental health conditions, European Journal of Higher Education, 12, 2, pp. 171-193, (2022)

7 Carballo, Rafael, Transforming faculty conceptions of disability and inclusive education through a training programme, International Journal of Inclusive Education, 25, 7, pp. 843-859, (2021)

8 Carballo, Rafael, Students with disabilities at university: benefits and challenges from the best faculty members’ experiences, European Journal of Special Needs Education, 38, 1, pp. 110-125, (2023)

9 Damiani, Michelle L., Being the Wizard behind the Curtain: Teaching Experiences of Graduate Teaching Assistants with Disabilities at U.S. Universities, Innovative Higher Education, 40, 5, pp. 399-413, (2015)

10 Edwards, Miriam, Academic accommodations for university students living with disability and the potential of universal design to address their needs, Higher Education, 84, 4, pp. 779-799, (2022)

Inclusion at university, transition to employment and employability of graduates with disabilities: A systematic review

How to Cite