Accepting employability as a purpose of higher education? Academics’ perceptions and practices

Sin, Cristina; Tavares, Orlanda; Amaral, Alberto

doi:10.1080/03075079.2017.1402174

Cited by 60 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Consequently, universities are now expected to pay more attention to help students develop their “soft” skills, with a view to producing well-rounded, “work-ready” graduates. Although promoting employability is increasingly seen as a purpose for higher education (Andrews and Higson, 2008; Clarke, 2018; Sin and Neave, 2016; Sin et al, 2019), some authors have expressed concern about this fundamental change in the role of universities (Jameson et al, 2012; Sin et al, 2019). For example, some “arts” academics teaching in institutions in Portugal see universities as being responsible for developing holistic individuals rather than for enhancing employability (Sin et al, 2019).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Universities are not seen as solely responsible for developing graduate employability skills, but rather as one of three major partners – HEIs, students and employers (Sin et al, 2019). Succi and Canovi (2019) have argued that these three stakeholders need to work together to achieve the goal of enhancing graduate employability.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There has been much debate regarding the role of higher education (Barnett, 2004; McArthur, 2011; Sin et al, 2019; Star and Hammer, 2008), with universities expected to make a greater contribution to society and the economy. Consequently, universities have increasingly embraced mass education and vocationalism.…”

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confidence: 99%

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An empirical approach to identifying employability skills required of graduates in the environmental sciences

Stewart

2020

Industry and Higher Education

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Universities are under pressure to produce work-ready graduates. This study analyzed 130 job advertisements to identify skills required by environmental science employers in Australia. For degree-related criteria, the most frequently required were content knowledge, a tertiary qualification and experience. Other desired skills were an understanding of environmental legislation, and an ability to undertake Geographical Information Systems (GIS) analysis, fieldwork, ecological surveys and species identification. For generic skills, more than half of advertisements required strong interpersonal, communication, writing and project management skills. It was concluded that universities should prioritize skills that occur most frequently in advertisements, and students should be given opportunities to participate in work experience. This would involve nurturing oral and written communication and teamwork skills, while equipping students with the ability to undertake ecological surveys in the field, identify important plants and animals, and conduct data analysis using GIS approaches. Senior undergraduate and postgraduate programs should include content on environmental policy and legislation, and the opportunity for students to hone their project and time management skills.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An empirical approach to identifying employability skills required of graduates in the environmental sciences

Stewart

2020

Industry and Higher Education

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“…Scholars in multiple disciplines have been focusing on the concept of student employability. Studies have confirmed the importance of the development of student employability (Sin et al, 2019). De Vos et al (2011) suggested that student employability is acquired by students through developing skills, knowledge, and capacity to meet the talent demands of the employment market.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Cross-Cultural Differences in Adopting Social Cognitive Career Theory at Student Employability in PLS-SEM: The Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Deep Approach to Learning

2021

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Unable to keep pace with the expectations of employers and societies that are constantly changing around the world, higher education policy and talent training have given rise to a gap between university education and employment. However, the higher education and industrial needs derived from technological progress have changed the development in country. This study aims to verify the learning method of Taiwanese vs. Malaysian university students and examines the relationship between teacher knowledge transfer and student employability from the perspective of a social cognitive career theory. In this study, 619 copies of questionnaires from the Taiwanese sample group and 443 copies of questionnaires from the Malaysian sample group were collected in total to compare the two sample groups in the development of student employability. The results indicate that teacher knowledge transfer has significant positive correlations with self-efficacy and a deep approach to learning and student employability, and the self-efficacy and a deep approach to learning have significant positive correlations with student employability in the Taiwanese sample. In Malaysia, except for the path between teacher knowledge transfer and student employability, all paths were significant and positively related. Finally, according to our results and findings, this study proposes several insights with practical and theoretical implications for future study.

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“…Furthermore, conceptions and practice may not always align. Sin, Tavares, and Amaral (2017), for example, found that teachers incorporated measures to further employability into their curriculum, even when they did not feel that ensuring employability is an important goal of higher education.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

University teachers’ conceptions of their current and ideal intermediate assessment: an A+ is good, but speaking your mind is better

Day

Blankenstein

Westenberg

et al. 2018

Studies in Higher Education

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Accepting employability as a purpose of higher education? Academics’ perceptions and practices

Cited by 60 publications

References 36 publications

An empirical approach to identifying employability skills required of graduates in the environmental sciences

An empirical approach to identifying employability skills required of graduates in the environmental sciences

Cross-Cultural Differences in Adopting Social Cognitive Career Theory at Student Employability in PLS-SEM: The Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Deep Approach to Learning

University teachers’ conceptions of their current and ideal intermediate assessment: an A+ is good, but speaking your mind is better

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