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Expectations and Experiences of Postgraduates’ Employability Skills: Employers’ Perspectives

 

 

Description

The purpose of the work is to investigate the views of employers of postgraduates and diplomats on the nature, value and impact of employability skills in their workplace.

 

Employers' expectations and experiences of postgraduates' employability skills will be studied.  These views will be used to develop models for incorporation of employability skills on postgraduate business and management courses and also to develop further teaching, learning and assessment activities to deliver postgraduate employability skills to optimum effect.

The project provides an important opportunity for employers of postgraduates as key stakeholders, even sponsors, of postgraduate programmes to be directly involved in shaping the development of employability skills.  King (2007) suggests that out of a potential £5bn annually which represents the market for employer demand at HE level, HE institutions capture only £300 m.  The potential to expand this market, King posits, is considerable.  There is a drive then to encourage closer collaboration and cooperation between employers and institutions.

The debate in the literature on employability has centred on definition and measurement of relevant skills (Knight, 2001; Morley 2001; Lees, 2002).  More recently questions have been raised about the effectiveness for employers of skills development in university rather than in the workplace.  Some evidence (Cranmer 2006) suggests that there is mismatch between skills acquired in university and those required in employment.
 
Therefore, this project extends previous research carried out by the project team in focusing on the views of employers.

 

 

Organisations / Institutions

 

Glasgow Caledonian University

 

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