This research is concerned with education employment equation in education sector. This
research will be based on perception of employers, teachers and students about the competencies
the graduates possess. Many employers think that employability skills should be shaped
somewhere else in graduates before entering workplace, throughout the curriculum at all levels.
They think that students should be prepared for workplace. It is suspected that widening the
access of higher education has increased the heterogeneity of the skills of the students in the
industry. Employers have indicated that students are often not prepared for the workplace and
call on universities to produce work-ready graduates. Educational institutions are under pressure
to generate competent students, so that they are able to respond in ever changing environment
This study aims to explore the level of competencies perceived by employers, teacher’s
perception about their students and students themselves perception about their competencies and
identify the gaps that need to be addressed. This research will focus where students of Comsats
are standing in case of competencies according to employers, teachers and their own perception.
The gaps between the ranks are evaluated. The study is conducted by applying convenience
sampling method. To determine the internal consistency, Cronbach Alpha test of the individual
variables is applied, the overall reliability is found to be acceptable.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER # 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1Objectives
1.2 Significance of Study
CHAPTER # 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
International Competency and Skills Gap Profile for Modern Graduates (from Jackson, 2010)
2.2 Application of Competency Gap Analysis
CHAPTER #3
RESEARCH METHODOLGY
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Sampling Technique
3.3 Research Instrument
3.4 Sampling Administration
3.5 Theoretical Framework
3.6 Hypothesis
CHAPTER#4
FINDING AND DISCUSSION
CHAPTER#5
CONCLUSION
Recommendations
Future Implications
Research Objectives and Themes
This study explores the existing competency gaps between professional education and employer expectations at the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, aiming to identify discrepancies in skill perceptions among employers, faculty, and students to improve graduate employability.
- Analysis of industry-demanded graduate competencies.
- Evaluation of current graduate skill levels provided by education.
- Assessment of perceptual gaps between employers, teachers, and students.
- Development of strategies to bridge identified competency gaps.
Excerpt from the Book
Figure 1: Cumulative Graph of the Competencies
This figure shows the gap between employers, teachers and students. As the colors shows the categories of respondents, which is divided into three parts i-e blue for employers, red for teacher and green for student. Graph shows the difference between employer and students ranking. It shows gap between employers and students, more gap in Value ethical and social sensitivity and Self management and Independent Working which show that there is a gap between employer’s expectation about graduate’s competencies and graduates perceived competencies. There are fewer gaps between employer and students in Decision-making & Problem, Analytical & logical reasoning, Computer Literacy, Interpersonal Skills, Personal learning &Development. In Value, ethical & social sensitivity, Team & Leadership and Self management & Independent working employers ranked high but students underestimate their competency they think they are not competent in these competencies.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER # 1: This chapter introduces the study's focus on the education-employment gap and defines the core research objectives and significance.
CHAPTER # 2: This chapter provides a literature review on graduate competencies, including specific profiles and the application of competency gap analysis in various professional sectors.
CHAPTER #3: This chapter outlines the research methodology, including the population, sampling techniques, research instruments used, and the theoretical framework governing the study.
CHAPTER#4: This chapter presents the findings and discussion of the data collected, highlighting the comparative rankings and perceptual differences between the three stakeholder groups.
CHAPTER#5: This chapter concludes the research by summarizing the findings, offering recommendations for curriculum improvement, and suggesting future research implications.
Keywords
Competency Gaps, Graduate Employability, Professional Education, Employer Expectations, Skill Development, COMSATS, Higher Education, Soft Skills, Technical Skills, Perception Analysis, Curriculum Development, Workforce Readiness, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills, Management Sciences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the "education-employment equation," specifically analyzing the gaps between the competencies possessed by graduates and the expectations held by their potential employers.
What are the primary stakeholder groups analyzed?
The study examines the perceptions of three distinct groups: employers (executives and recruiters), faculty members (teachers), and students at the COMSATS Institute in Abbottabad.
What is the main research objective?
The main objective is to explore the level of competencies perceived by each group and to identify the specific gaps that must be addressed to produce work-ready graduates.
Which research methodology was utilized?
The study utilized a convenience sampling method and a structured questionnaire to collect data, which was subsequently analyzed using factors analysis and the Cronbach Alpha test to ensure reliability.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the literature on graduate attributes, the research design and theoretical framework, and a detailed findings section that uses cumulative graphs to visualize competency gaps.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Competency Gaps, Graduate Employability, Employer Expectations, Skill Development, and Curriculum Development.
How do students generally perceive their own competencies compared to employers?
The study finds that students generally underestimate their competencies in areas like Teamwork and Leadership, while employers rank these much higher.
What does the study suggest for curriculum development?
The study recommends that curriculum developers and universities actively involve industry stakeholders to align academic content with market requirements and foster "work-ready" skills.
- Quote paper
- Mansoor Shahab (Author), 2012, Competency Gap: How Students and Teachers Perception of Competencies Differ from Employers , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/199079
