Skills Acquisition and Employability Among Arts and Social Sciences Interns in a Malaysian Public University

Abstract

Many Malaysian employers feel that university curricula inadequately prepare graduates for the realities of the job market. The present study attempts to rank skills acquisition among interns at a Malaysian public university and identify the gaps through skills gap and radar analyses. Respondents comprised students from an Arts and Social Sciences faculty in a Malaysian public university who had undergone internship as well as the employers who conducted trainings for them. Using a simple random sampling method, 164 students and 43 employers provided responses. The largest gap between employers’ expectations and interns’ performance is seen for ‘values, attitudes and professionalism’. Employers tend to emphasise ‘values, attitudes and professionalism’ as an essential skill for employability. Positive qualities, such as having good work habits and attitudes, are valuable assets that need to be inculcated. Another skill that requires improvement is ‘communication, leadership and team skills’, as poor communication skills can become a serious obstacle for employability. This study provides insights from a dual perspective analysis through the identification of gaps between actual and expected intern performance. This information will be a valuable guideline in redesigning university modules to meet the demands of potential employers.

Acquisition of Program Graduate Traits of Teacher Interns in a Philippine State University: Implications for Elementary Teacher Education Management

“…This result differs from previous research who found that females performed better than their male counterparts in terms of the teaching skills acquired during internship (Adu-Marfo et al, 2024;Ahiatrogah, 2017). The other study also observed a small difference in how male and female interns assessed their skill development (Ang, 2015;Monogaran & Subramaniam, 2023). Nevertheless, this study underscores the significance of examining the teacher interns' capabilities rather than forming conclusions based on gender stereotypes when evaluating their learned abilities and inherent characteristics.…”

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“…And now, using the platforms as [...] to this day." The result confirmed the result of a study by Monogaran and Subramaniam (2023) that finds ICT skills as one of the important skills for an internship as perceived by the students.…”

“…Hence, as students transition from an academic setting to the practical realm of internship, their perception of the necessary skills plays an important role in shaping their confidence and overall experience. Monogaran and Subramaniam (2023) conducted a study on -Skills Acquisition and Employability Among Arts and Social Sciences Interns in a Malaysian Public University". The study was done to investigate interns' employability skills from their perspective and determine the necessary skills sought by their employers.…”

“…So, I believe other than communication skills, everything else should be alright with how our course is doing." Hence, a strong foundation of communication proficiency will be beneficial as employers particularly look for this quality in the hiring process (Monogaran & Subramaniam, 2023) Other than for the purposes mentioned above, the students also believe that communication skills are significant for interacting with their co-workers. As expressed by S3 "The reason is, during my internship, they mentioned that there are students who are kind of like... just quiet.…”

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“…Moreover, international internships provide students with unique networking opportunities and exposure to different business practices and work cultures, significantly enhancing their future career prospects (Monogaran & Subramaniam, 2023). By immersing themselves in international work environments, students gain firsthand experience in navigating diverse professional settings, fostering adaptability and intercultural competence.…”