The Relationship Between Graduate Attributes and Employability Essay

Sampson et al., (2013) define employability as "a set of skills, knowledge, understanding and personal attributes that make a person more likely to choose and secure occupations in which they can be satisfied and successful''. The graduate qualities include self-direction, problem-solving, creativity, independence, and taking initiative. Moreover, the graduates possess the capacity to identify and respond resourcefully to new challenges or obstacles that may arise (Steur et al., 2016). The graduates are competitive in the marketplace because of their innovation. They come up with new solutions for challenges they have in the companies. They also possess leadership skills which heighten employability (Sampson et al., 2013). Graduate attributes equip the students to achieve their full potential in employment. Employment skills are highly-valued by companies because employers require people who can organize their schedule and interact well with others. The graduate may also adapt to changes that may arise in the workplace. Steur et al (2016) found that These skills are established throughout an individual's life and in multiple settings, such as work and increases the chances of becoming employed. The studies carried out indicated that the students had acquired primary attributes that "increased value of employability in university education" (Steur et al., 2016). The graduate can thrive and promote a multicultural environment in an international perspective in a global society and economy. According to Greenbaum and Rycroft (2014), there is a close relationship between graduate attributes and employability. The study conducted in South Africa showed that employers look for attributes such as critical thinking, confidence and communication skills. The survey was conducted by questionnaire where students were asked questions that required them to think critically (Greenbaum & Rycroft, 2014).

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Conclusion

Most companies expect graduates to possess certain attributes that are important in the workplace. These skills include communication, critical thinking, innovative and self-awareness. There is a significant mismatch between the skills graduate acquire from the university and the required attributes in the market. The higher education institutions have a great responsibility to produce graduates that are adaptable and versatile to the current competitive world. The purpose of the literature review was to review peer-reviewed work on the topic of graduate attributes. The results from the seven articles prove that there is a close relationship between graduate attributes and employability. Trends in graduate attributes need further research to learn the needs of international students who use a fixed curriculum.

References

Badcock, P. B., Pattison, P. E., & Harris, K. L. (2010). Developing generic skills through university study: a study of arts, science and engineering in Australia. Higher Education, 60(4), 441-458.

Greenbaum, L., & Rycroft, A. (2014). The development of graduate attributes: The Book of the Year project. South African Journal of Higher Education, 28(1), 91-109.

Steur, J., Jansen, E., & Hofman, A. (2016). Towards graduateness: exploring academic intellectual development in university master's students. Educational Research and Evaluation, 22(1-2), 6-22.

Sampson, K. A., Moltchanova, E., Robertson, I., Bridgman, C., Suszko, A., & Russell, D. (2018). A Roadmap for the Evaluation of Attributes in University Graduates. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 53(1), 119-134.

Barrie, S. C. (2006). Understanding what we mean by the generic attributes of graduates. Higher education, 51(2), 215-241.

James, S., Warhurst, C., Tholen, G., & Commander, J. (2013). What we know and what we need to know about graduate skills. Work, employment and society, 27(6), 952-963.

Steur, J. M., Jansen, E. P. W. A., & Hofman, W. H. A. (2012). Graduateness: An empirical examination of the formative function of university education. Higher Education, 64(6), 861-874.