Employability skills of alumni students: requirements and expectancies

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this study is to explore the views of young and experienced professionals in Uzbekistan and their relevance to labour market requirements in order to improve employment. Design/methodology/approach – The data was collected using a quantitative approach; online semi-structured questionnaire was disseminated to 607 WIUT alumni students applying a Likert Scale question. Findings – The results indicate that WIUT library program is current and well-planned. However, the activities do not fully meet the needs of young and experienced graduates. Shortage of staff impacted on applying LRC curriculum effectively. Research limitations – The factors that impact an individual's income are numerous, and the data that has been collected is not in-depth enough to make substantive correlations between library usage and income. Practical implications – The findings will assist in planning LRC activities and developing teaching approaches at WIUT. Furthermore, existing and new graduates can advance market driven skills and boost their employability. Originality/value – This research is the initial investigation conducted in Uzbekistan that examines how university library operations impact the employability skills of graduates. It is also one of the earliest studies that looks into the experiences of former students in terms of employability skills.