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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to identify the Introduction
employability skills that employers perceive to be
important for entry-level
level graduates and the skills set Graduate employability skills have become one of the
required for sustainable employability of graduates in most important topics on the higher education agenda
India. In most of the Indian colleges, students aare in this current era in India. Today’s employers are
from different academic backgrounds coming from increasingly focusing on hiring graduates who possess
different places having different mother tongues. So, a broader skill-set
set than in the past and also
als the
there is a need to provide them a common platform to workforce is characterized by change and increasing
make them competent enough to face the real competition for jobs. So, it is important for
challenges of today’s corporate world. English is the educational programs, to be aware of the qualities that
language which can remove the lingual difference are valued by employers in the industry and provide
among them and give them a common medium to the same for graduates.
communicate. Employers are often looking for skills
Universities have the responsibility to design and
that go beyond qualifications and experience. Each
implement programs that are appropriate to the
employer has different perceptions and expectations
missions and goals to supply the workforce that are
toward graduate
raduate skills. According to many research
relevant to the needs of employers. It becomes the
findings the students with skills like positive attitude,
responsibility of universities to provide graduates with
effective communication, problem solving, time
knowledge in the professional field with intellectual
management, team spirit, self-confidence,
confidence, handling
skills and ability to apply theory to practical
criticism, flexibility, etc which are also known as soft
situations. Other generic university skills as identified
skills as a whole, have much more better chances of
by the Malaysian qualification frameworks such as
survival in the tough corporate world compared to the
the ability to communicate, possession of attitudes
students who are lacking in the soft skills.
and values of responsible citizen are other areas that is
Employability skills are very essential in the current
expected to be developed during the course of study
global job market. Skill shortage remains one of tthe
(2008).
major constraints to continued growth of the Indian
economy.
Employers in any industrial sector emphasize the need
for employees with certain foundational skills such as
Keywords:: Education, Employability skills, Skill
teamwork, problem solving, work ethic and integrity.
shortage, Soft skills, Global job market
Graduate employability is a key issue for Higher
Education because employers don’t always spell out
@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 2 | Jan-Feb 2018 Page: 948
International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
Importance of employability skills Employability skills expected by the employers
Insufficient supply of quality skills is one of the main From the employers’ perceptions, they viewed that
impediments to further economic growth in India. The “applying theory into practice” is the most important
skill shortage is still one of the major constraints in skill that a graduate should have. A number of studies
most industries in India, (World Bank, 2009). As found that the expectations of employer on graduates
higher education has expanded, there has been in relation to university education appear to be
increased emphasis on the skills that students learn strongly influenced by highly context-bound
during their time in higher education, beyond the interpretations of desirable graduate capabilities,
knowledge, technical and academic skills related to competencies and the professional attributes of a
their subject or indicated by their achieved class of profession.
degree (Mason, Williams and Cranmer 2006:2). Each
employer has different perceptions and expectations Both Marock (2008) & Pool (2007) state that young
toward graduate skills. One of the key reasons why adults entering the world of work in the 21st century
many students invest in university education is to are required not only to be employable but also to
improve their employment prospects. However, whilst sustain their employability during their careers by
achievement of good academic qualifications is highly constant acquisition and updation of skills.
valued, it no longer appears sufficient to secure
employment (Yorke, 2006). Additionally, employers These skills were seen to have relevance to both
expect students to have well developed employability entry-level and established employees. It was also
skills, so that they can make an immediate recognized that the skills would be prioritized and
contribution to the workplace when recruited (e.g. adapted to suit various job-roles. The eight identified
Confederation of British Industry, 2008). skills are:
Communication skills that contribute to
The current trend of placing increased emphasis on productive and harmonious relations between
graduate key skills therefore dictates that the higher employees and customers
education curriculum incorporates opportunities to Teamwork skills that contribute to productive
develop such skills in conjunction with subject- working relationships and outcomes
specific skills and knowledge. This should enhance Problem solving skills that contribute to
applicants’ potential for success in the recruitment productive outcomes
process by producing ‘business ready’ graduates, able Self-management skills that contribute to
to make a dynamic start and rapidly adapt to change. employee satisfaction and growth
Making the transition from higher education to the Planning and organizing skills that contributes to
workforce is important (Crebert, Bates, Bell, Carol- long-term and short-term strategic planning
Joy and Cragnolini (2004)), stated that “the transition Technology skills that contribute to effective
from university to employment often brings insecurity execution of tasks
and unease”. Despite widespread initiatives in
Life-long learning skills that contribute to
employability skill provision in higher education,
ongoing improvement and expansion in
gaps between graduate workplace performance and
employee and company operations and outcomes
employer expectations continue to persist (BIHECC,
Initiative and enterprise skills that contribute to
2007; Helyer, 2011).
innovative outcomes.
Importantly, graduate employability is multi-faceted
Enhancing employability skills
and encompasses academic performance, career
management skills, and labour market awareness Enhancing the employability skills of university
(Rothwell & Arnold, 2007), in addition to workplace graduates is an area that is receiving much attention at
learning (Billet, 2011), and personality theory (Rae, present. Although there is much debate on what
2007). Skill development in higher education is constitutes graduate employability skills, they are
however, considered a significant contributor to generally accepted as the knowledge, skills and
employability. It features prominently in models attributes that graduates should have developed to be
attempting to interpret and define the precise meaning effective in the workplace, to the benefit of
of graduate employability. themselves, their employer and the wider economy.
@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 2 | Jan-Feb 2018 Page: 949
International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
The most fundamental element of any effort to membership and to assess for areas requiring
enhance employability of graduates is to understand professional development.
what makes the graduates employable. The Professional bodies should be the governors and
universities and HEI (Higher Education Institutions) protectors of curriculum. They should advocate
have to take responsibility to identify the essential for the profession as a whole’.
skill set needed for the graduates to be employable. So Innovative learning, teaching and assessment
that the graduates can be trained according to the methods which promote students’ to understand
employers need. and help them to engage in ‘deep’ learning
which will enhance their employability.
Initial employment chances immediately after Involving employers in the education
graduation are based on characteristics that are easily experience, for example, through placements,
observable, such as the level and field of the study case studies, delivery of guest lectures, can help
programme, the prestige of the HEI (Higher students appreciate the relevance of their course
Education Institutions) from which the person and learn how to apply theory and knowledge in
graduated, grades, relevant work experience and practical ways in the workplace.
international experience. It is therefore of great
importance to understand in more detail which Conclusion:
attributes employers are seeking from the graduates?
when they recruit graduates? and which perceived Human resources, in terms of quality and quantity, are
attributes are likely to tip the scale in favor of one India’s biggest assets. Employability skills are very
graduate compared to another? vital for the success in the labor market in all sectors.
Along with good technical understanding and subject
Employability skills among the graduates can be knowledge, employers often outline a set of skills that
enhanced by: they want from an employee. These skills are what
Universities can work to develop employability they believe will equip the employee to carry out their
skills in their students by providing academic role to the best of their ability. However, to capitalize
staff with relevant support and resources, fully on this opportunity and not face the possibility
integrating these skills into curriculum and of a skills-shortage, it is essential to gear up the
course design, providing students with work education system through innovative initiatives. This
placements and exposure to professional settings study provided areas where employers’ perceived the
and providing advice and guidance through areas that needed to be improved. The feedbacks can
career services. improve and increase the standard of education to
Connecting Higher Education and Industry create a better curriculum to fulfill the needs of
Universities, industries and businesses can work students, employers, society and the whole nation.
more closely together to accomplish mutual
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@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 2 | Jan-Feb 2018 Page: 950
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@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 2 | Jan-Feb 2018 Page: 951