Assessing Graduate Employability Skills: Implications for Quality in Higher Education

Abstract

The study was conducted at Mekelle University to examine whether the training programs enable graduates to develop the required employability skills. It was also meant to study the actual practices of graduates in the world of work. To examine whether the training at the university enables students to develop the required employability skills, first year students and graduating class students were tested using the graduate skills assessment instrument. Employers in selected firms and former graduates of the university were also asked in relation to their experiences of the use of employability skills. Program catalogues of selected faculties were also content analyzed. It was found that first year students’ performance in the graduate skills assessment test was significantly higher than the graduating class students. Former graduates working in selected firms also indicated that although they regularly use problem solving and job related vocational skills, they have not developed these skills during their college experience. Similarly, employers revealed that their employees lack problem solving and job related skills. The contents of the program catalogue do not clearly specify a set of graduate skills that should be acquired by graduates at the completion of their studies. The need to revise the training programs and to work in collaboration with business and industry is thoroughly discussed.