Just over 10 years ago, the Ontario government passed legislation that resulted in baccalaureate degree-granting status for provincial community colleges. Since this fundamental shift in college credential delivery, the numbers of programs, students and graduates have continued to grow, and are expected to continue to do so. While employers were not an obvious driver behind this shift, understanding their expectations and perceptions as they pertain to these degree programs and graduates is critical for Ontario colleges and students. This research involved interviews with Greater Toronto Area employers who have hired college degree graduates. The interviews demonstrated that, while there is still a general lack of knowledge about college degrees, employers find value in the programs and essentially envision themselves as partners who can play a greater role in future program development and ongoing review. This includes having an impact on curriculum, graduate expectations, work experience opportunities and identifying skill gaps.

Higher education is instrumental in the economic development of any country, as a resource of skilled personnel and knowledge production. In South Africa there is a need for higher education institutions (HEIs) to develop innovative responses to address graduate employability and entrepreneurship education. Moreover, there is a need to catalyse entrepreneurship activity among students in order to cultivate skilled opportunity-orientated entrepreneurs. This study explores the application the ‘Junior Enterprise (JE) concept’ (an international best practice) as a mechanism of improving employability and fostering entrepreneurship. To discern if this practice is appropriate for South African students, the research investigates students’ perceptions. Overall the findings suggest that there is relevant student demand for this type of experiential and cooperative learning practice. However, conflicting studies infer that the widespread implementation of this type of learning practice will face implicit challenges in the indigenous context. To further examine the feasibility of applying the JE-concept in South African HEIs, it is essential to design, implement and evaluate a pilot project. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

The popularity and application of competencies to human resource processes has grown over the last 20 years since Richard Boyatzis fIrst described a competency in his book 'The Competent Manager' in 1982. With this dissertation a study of the origins of the competency movement, its various applications and in particular, its application to human resource processes in the area of graduate recruitment, selection and development, is undertaken. A study of the application of an existing competency framework to the graduate recruitment process in a local subsidiary of a Durban-based multi-national was undertaken. The objective of the study was to investigate whether specifIc competency clusters, as defIned in the competency framework, were better at predicting early career success than were others. The study used the cumulative appraisal increases of fIfty-four graduate recruits over a twenty-one month period, together with the competency scores that were awarded the graduate during their actual recruitment and selection for employment. Using a backward elimination multiple regression technique the merit ratings were included with scores for each of the four competency clusters in the equation. Results suggest that higher scores on two of the four competency clusters 'Determines Direction' (DD) and 'Delivers through People' (P) are better predictors of early career success. It was concluded that while certain competency clusters seem better indicators of early career success than others, factors such as interviewer skill in identifying competency evidence, interviewer bias and appropriateness of ii competencies to graduate recruitment, may account for the weak relationship between the indicator variables in the study. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2002

With numerous local economies previously driven by manufacturing, Indiana was strongly affected by the economic downturn from 2007 until 2009. One suggestion to facilitate economic growth has been Richard Florida’s “creative class” theory, which asserts that talented and educated people choose to live in creative places. College graduates represent one part of Florida’s “creative class.” Current students at Ball State University were surveyed to understand the importance of place-related factors for where students wanted to live after they graduated. The survey responses indicated that students are most concerned with income potential, cost of living, and distance to family. Alumni residence data from Ball State and three other Indiana universities were also mapped and compared to county-level measures of income, housing, distance from home, and creativity index. This analysis supports the survey findings that economic factors and family connections are likely motivating factors in where graduates have chosen to live and stands in contrast to the overall logic of the creative place theory of development. / Department of Geography

Background: The skills and competencies of the professionals in the supply chain sector have been highlighted since the 1960s as an area of academic interest. In modern days there are reports and articles highlighting a “skills-gap” between employers’ requirements and business graduates. In the meanwhile youth unemployment is a contemporary, acknowledged European problem and therefore there shouldn’t be a gap between supply and demand of young talents. Therefore it raises questions as to why employers report lack of young talents and at the same time youth unemployment is on the rise. Purpose: The present thesis will answer part of the abovementioned questions. More specifically it will measure the part of employers’ expectations. For that reason it will investigate in a transparent and systematic way, the requirements that employers state they expect from business graduates within the supply chain function through published job advertisements. Method: Empirical data consist of 60 publically available job advertisements aiming at supply chain graduates. The collected empirical data were analysed by the means of quantitative content analysis and then cluster analysis.Results and conclusion: The contemporary supply chain graduate is expected to demonstrate an all-around personality. The most frequently requested skills were teamwork, problem-solving ability, effective communication, English, and having a responsible, mature and professional attitude. Suggestions for future research: A longitudinal study in a broader linguistic context would raise awareness on emerging skills and track changes over time.

The International Hotel School is registered with the South African Department of Higher Education and Training as a Private Higher Education Institution. This registration entails accreditation by the Council on Higher Education and one of the requirements for accreditation is that "The programme has taken steps to enhance the employability of students and to alleviate shortages of expertise in relevant fields, in cases where these are the desired outcomes of the programme." The purpose of this study was to assess, from a graduate perspective, whether or not the Diploma in Hospitality Management programme offered by the school met the requirement of the Council on Higher Education. Skills sought by employers were identified through a review of literature on the topic of 'employability'. These skills were used to compile a research questionnaire sent electronically to the identified sample group. A study was conducted among students who had completed the diploma programme during the years 2008 to 2010. Using a five-point Likert Scale respondents were asked to rate their perception of skills developed through their participation in the diploma programme. In addition to assessing the employability skills, respondents were asked to rate the usefulness to them in their employment of the subjects comprising the diploma programme. Here a four point Rating Scale was used in the questionnaire. Results of the study have identified areas of weakness within the programme's design and recommendations will be made to the school Academic Board as to suggested actions to be taken in addressing these weaknesses. The programme's syllabi should be reviewed and the curricula content adapted to consider the areas of concern highlighted through this study. The study identified that the programme goes some way to meeting the requirements of both the Department of Higher education and Training and employers within the hospitality industry. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

Research shows that there has been a rapid growth in the number, types and delivery modes of international MBA programmes offered by private and public universities. In this situation, the process by which students select a suitable programme is of interest not only to potential students, but also to their families, university administrators, potential employers and governments (large investors in public sector institutions). This study reviews what the literature has to say about factors influencing student choice of MBA and other international markets, but further research is needed to determine whether factors of choice identified overseas also apply in Bangkok. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2005.

One of the goals for physical therapist graduates of professional entry-level education programs is development of the ability to practice effectively in the present health care environment. Another goal is for graduates to develop the ability to continue to learn and grow as professionals throughout their careers, and to contribute to the evolution of their profession in the future. The clinical reasoning and associated experiential learning of new graduates can be viewed as a practical demonstration of both of these goals. This research explored student physical therapists? understanding and learning of clinical reasoning during their professional entry education. / PhD Doctorate

Research shows that there has been a rapid growth in the number, types and delivery modes of international MBA programmes offered by private and public universities. In this situation, the process by which students select a suitable programme is of interest not only to potential students, but also to their families, university administrators, potential employers and governments (large investors in public sector institutions). This study reviews what the literature has to say about factors influencing student choice of MBA and other international markets, but further research is needed to determine whether factors of choice identified overseas also apply in Bangkok. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2005.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.