Magister Artium - MA / This study evaluates the extent to which the Environmental Internship Programme has impacted upon graduate employability in the City of Cape Town. Graduate unemployment crisis has been categorized as one of the socio-economic issues affecting the nation of South Africa with graduates struggling to find jobs in the areas which they graduated from. On the other hand, organisations are suffering from a lack of skills in different spheres. In order for this gap to be bridged, human resource development strategies have been put in place for graduates such as; internships, training and learnership programmes. In 2005, the Environmental Resource Management Department (ERMD) launched a programme called the Environmental Internship Programme (EIP) to address the needs of graduates in the environmental management field. The programme is a yearlong internship aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and the first steps of a professional career. The aim of the ERMD is to create a pool of skilled professionals to be absorbed into the city as well as provincial, national government and the private sector by making the interns better employable by the time they leave the EIP. It is against this background that this study evaluates the impact of the programme on graduate employability. Within the investigation, the researcher looked at the appropriate legislations, and policies that govern a programme of this nature. The study utilizes primary and secondary research information based on interviews and open-ended questionnaires.

At the current level of society development, we can talk about the so-called knowledgebased society, which is the result of higher connectivity between people. The development of the knowledgebased society is conditional upon lifelong learning of its members. The master thesis deals with a retraining course as a possibility of further education. Its aim is to evaluate the form of management of the chosen accounting course and to assess the graduate´s chance to participate successfully in the labor market.

University graduates stand at the dawn of their careers, seeking meaningful employment in a labour market that is characterised by volatile change and globalisation. This new world of work requires flexibility, versatility, and creativity ‒ skills not traditionally required of an employee. Graduates today are required to develop a skills-set that enables pro-active career behaviour and, furthermore, aid the employer to utilise such abilities as business solutions. There is a lack of consensual scientific knowledge available on employability, despite the rise in its importance to the 21st century employer and graduate employee. This is especially true for the South African context. Accordingly, the main aim of this study was to investigate the employability and psychological career resources of graduate students to identify the strengths and development areas of the sample. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of standardised instruments, specifically the Psychological Career Resources Inventory (PCRI, developed by Coetzee, 2008) and the Graduate Employability Measure (GEM, developed by Bezuidenhout, 2011), was distributed to a random sample of 113 final-year students from the Faculty of Economic and Management Science of the University of Pretoria. The results indicate a strong employability profile with few clear-cut development areas. Students believe themselves to have high levels of career resilience (mean = 4.94; SD 0.75), whilst also having a strong inclination to the openness to change dimension (mean = 4.86; SD = 0.59), pointing to an overall all adaptable orientation to their careers. In terms of the psychological career resources profile, the sample presented with high scores on all dimensions namely: career preferences, career values, career purpose, career harmonisers, and career drivers. This prevailing positive perception regarding psychological career resources can be seen as balanced, and thus facilitates adaptive, proactive career behaviour, which, in turn, influences general employability. This result is validated by the high mean scores on all employability dimensions. It is also evident that there are no significant differences to be observed between men and women across all dimensions measured, indicating that men and women are equally likely to be proactively involved in their career-management in order to develop the skills required to be seen as employable. Furthermore, there is evidence of significant relationships between the majority of psychological career resources dimensions and those of the graduate employability dimensions. These results are expected to add valuable insights to the field of career management literature and human resources practices alike, which, in turn, will inform graduates regarding their prospects. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

Today, there is a mismatch between business graduates and employers in the labor market, interms of fit. Much of this mismatch is due to a lack of understanding of the needs of individualemployers. Previous research has not taken into consideration contextual and individualdifferences, which significantly affects what employers want. Hence, in order to understand theemployability of business graduates, one has to recognize the diversity in employer needs,which entails studying the role of organizational identity in employer requirements. The purpose of this research was to get a more comprehensive understanding of how individualemployers in Sweden experience different aspects of Graduate Employability. The dissertationfurther builds on significant research on Graduate Employability, thus making it a study ofdeductive nature. In order to increase the understanding of Graduate Employability, we optedfor an exploratory and qualitative approach. With the use of interviews, we were able to collectin-depth empirical data that were based on real-life experiences and working environments offive individual employers. Our findings illustrated Graduate Employability from a more practical perspective, thusoffering a more nuanced understanding of what employers expect and want from businessgraduates. Not only did we illuminate the concept of Graduate Employability, but we alsohighlighted the importance getting to know the employers and their needs. The contribution of this thesis will help aspiring business graduates to improve theiremployability, but the findings also have implications for higher education institutions andemployers alike.

This study explores the expectations of local communities from higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Northern Province of Rwanda, focusing on two specific institutions: IPRC Musanze and INES Ruhengeri. Employing a robust mixed-method design, the research integrates both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were collected through structured surveys administered to HEI staff and alumni, while qualitative insights were gathered via in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders, including community members. Additionally, secondary data sources, such as policy documents and institutional reports, were utilized to complement the primary data. The study's findings reveal a significant disparity between community expectations and the actual capabilities of HEIs, shaped by factors such as institutional type (public vs. private), program offerings, and the socio-economic needs of residents. Notably, gender differences emerged, with women generally harbouring higher, often unrealistic, expectations of HEIs compared to men. Communities view HEIs as crucial drivers of regional development, expecting them to enhance employability, contribute to local economic growth, and provide essential community services. However, challenges including inadequate collaboration, resource constraints, and differing expectations between public and private institutions were identified. To address these issues, the study proposes adding the 'local community' as a fourth element to the existing triple helix model (university-industry-government) to better align HEI outputs with community needs. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of redefining roles and responsibilities between HEIs and the government to foster more effective and sustainable collaborations. The research contributes to the broader discourse on higher education's role in societal development, particularly in emerging economies like Rwanda. The rigorous methodological approach, employing the three main research programmes Citavi, NVivo and SPSS, ensures that the study's insights are both robust and actionable:The current thesis is divided into eight chapters: (1) General Introduction, (2) Related Works, (3) Guiding Theories/Models, (4) Research Methodology, (5) Talking from Experience: Graduates' Voice from Graduation to Labour Market, (6) Communities in the Vicinity of HEIs: A Local Perspective and Expectations, (7) Collaboration between HEIs and their Neighbouring Communities: Challenges and Proposed Solutions and lastly but not least, the chapter (8) which is conclusion. I start the first chapter by giving readers a broad introduction that sets the scene for the study and is followed by a statement of the problem. I also define the study's purpose, research questions, and the scope. Finally, I talk about the significance of the study. In the second chapter, I attempt to conduct a critical review of the existing literature on the research questions. Weaknesses, gaps, immediate relevance, and contributions are identified in this review, and the exploration reflects the variables specified in the research questions and objectives. The third chapter identifies the underlying theories reflecting the relationships between the concepts and theories that I intend to analyze in order to achieve the stated goals of the study. The fourth chapter discusses the research questions, resources, and procedures along with how they relate to the study's theoretical framework. To achieve this, a brief discussion of the research design, study location, study population, sampling technique, sample size, data collection and methods, data sources, data analysis, and ethical considerations is provided. The fifth chapter presents and discusses field data that was gathered to address one of the four major research questions that the current thesis seeks to investigate. A special focus is placed on graduates from HEIs. It primarily focuses on what we can learn from the experiences of current HEI graduates on the job market. Graduates discuss their practical experience in the labour market from the time of graduation to their current position. The analysis and presentation of the findings in relation to the following research questions are covered in the sixth chapter: What do local communities anticipate of HEIs in their areas? Do communities' expectations of public and private HEIs differ in any way? Which one, if any? It aims to ascertain the various kinds of expectations that the communities in Rwanda's Northern Region have of the HEIs nearby. The chapter contrasts the expectations of the two study institutions' local communities. The study participants were selected from residential areas close to the colleges; IPRC Musanze (public) and INES Ruhengeri (private). While Chapter 6 presented and discussed facts and expectations primarily related to collaboration between higher education institutions and neighbouring communities under the current study, Chapter 7 presents and discusses field data collected to answer another key research question that focuses on the challenges that collaboration faces. Its primary goal is to identify the most significant challenges and potential solutions to the majority of those challenges. Based on their practical experience, both local community members and staff from the two HEIs identified pressing challenges. Finally, in Chapter 8, a conclusion is drawn using data primarily from two higher education institutions in Rwanda's northern province as a case study. The conclusion was reached following the study's objectives, based on evidence and reasoning grounded on collected data and evaluated literature while keeping the theoretical framework in mind. / Diese Studie untersucht die Erwartungen der Lokalgemeinschaften an Hochschulen (HEIs) in der Nordprovinz Ruandas, wobei der Fokus auf zwei spezifischen Institutionen liegt: IPRC Musanze und INES Ruhengeri. Durch den Einsatz eines bewährten Mixed-Method-Designs integriert die Forschung sowohl quantitative als auch qualitative Ansätze. Quantitative Daten wurden durch strukturierte Umfragen erhoben, die an das Personal und die Alumni der HEIs gerichtet waren, während qualitative Erkenntnisse durch tiefgehende Interviews und Fokusgruppendiskussionen mit wichtigen Interessengruppen, einschließlich Gemeindemitgliedern, gesammelt wurden. Zusätzlich wurden sekundäre Datenquellen, wie politische Dokumente und institutionelle Berichte, herangezogen, um die Primärdaten zu ergänzen. Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen eine signifikante Diskrepanz zwischen den Erwartungen der Gemeinschaften und den tatsächlichen Fähigkeiten der HEIs, die von Faktoren wie der Art der Institution (öffentlich vs. privat), dem Studienangebot und den sozioökonomischen Bedürfnissen der Bewohner beeinflusst werden. Auffällig sind auch Geschlechterunterschiede, wobei Frauen im Allgemeinen höhere, oft unrealistische Erwartungen an die HEIs haben als Männer. Die Gemeinschaften sehen die HEIs als wesentliche Treiber der regionalen Entwicklung, erwarten von ihnen eine Steigerung der Beschäftigungsfähigkeit, einen Beitrag zum lokalen Wirtschaftswachstum und die Bereitstellung wesentlicher Dienstleistungen für die Gemeinschaft. Es wurden jedoch Herausforderungen wie unzureichende Zusammenarbeit, begrenzte Ressourcen und unterschiedliche Erwartungen zwischen öffentlichen und privaten Institutionen festgestellt. Um diese Probleme zu bewältigen, schlägt die Studie vor, die Lokalgemeinschaft als viertes Element dem bestehenden Triple-Helix-Modell (Universität-Industrie-Regierung) hinzuzufügen, um die Ergebnisse der HEIs besser an die Bedürfnisse der Gemeinschaft anzupassen. Darüber hinaus wird die Notwendigkeit betont, die Rollen und Verantwortlichkeiten zwischen den HEIs und der Regierung neu zu definieren, um eine effektivere und nachhaltigere Zusammenarbeit zu fördern. Die Forschung leistet einen Beitrag zur breiteren Diskussion über die Rolle der Hochschulbildung in der gesellschaftlichen Entwicklung, insbesondere in aufstrebenden Volkswirtschaften wie Ruanda. Der streng methodische Ansatz, der die drei Hauptforschungsprogramme Citavi, NVivo und SPSS einsetzt, stellt sicher, dass die Erkenntnisse der Studie sowohl fundiert als auch umsetzbar sind:The current thesis is divided into eight chapters: (1) General Introduction, (2) Related Works, (3) Guiding Theories/Models, (4) Research Methodology, (5) Talking from Experience: Graduates' Voice from Graduation to Labour Market, (6) Communities in the Vicinity of HEIs: A Local Perspective and Expectations, (7) Collaboration between HEIs and their Neighbouring Communities: Challenges and Proposed Solutions and lastly but not least, the chapter (8) which is conclusion. I start the first chapter by giving readers a broad introduction that sets the scene for the study and is followed by a statement of the problem. I also define the study's purpose, research questions, and the scope. Finally, I talk about the significance of the study. In the second chapter, I attempt to conduct a critical review of the existing literature on the research questions. Weaknesses, gaps, immediate relevance, and contributions are identified in this review, and the exploration reflects the variables specified in the research questions and objectives. The third chapter identifies the underlying theories reflecting the relationships between the concepts and theories that I intend to analyze in order to achieve the stated goals of the study. The fourth chapter discusses the research questions, resources, and procedures along with how they relate to the study's theoretical framework. To achieve this, a brief discussion of the research design, study location, study population, sampling technique, sample size, data collection and methods, data sources, data analysis, and ethical considerations is provided. The fifth chapter presents and discusses field data that was gathered to address one of the four major research questions that the current thesis seeks to investigate. A special focus is placed on graduates from HEIs. It primarily focuses on what we can learn from the experiences of current HEI graduates on the job market. Graduates discuss their practical experience in the labour market from the time of graduation to their current position. The analysis and presentation of the findings in relation to the following research questions are covered in the sixth chapter: What do local communities anticipate of HEIs in their areas? Do communities' expectations of public and private HEIs differ in any way? Which one, if any? It aims to ascertain the various kinds of expectations that the communities in Rwanda's Northern Region have of the HEIs nearby. The chapter contrasts the expectations of the two study institutions' local communities. The study participants were selected from residential areas close to the colleges; IPRC Musanze (public) and INES Ruhengeri (private). While Chapter 6 presented and discussed facts and expectations primarily related to collaboration between higher education institutions and neighbouring communities under the current study, Chapter 7 presents and discusses field data collected to answer another key research question that focuses on the challenges that collaboration faces. Its primary goal is to identify the most significant challenges and potential solutions to the majority of those challenges. Based on their practical experience, both local community members and staff from the two HEIs identified pressing challenges. Finally, in Chapter 8, a conclusion is drawn using data primarily from two higher education institutions in Rwanda's northern province as a case study. The conclusion was reached following the study's objectives, based on evidence and reasoning grounded on collected data and evaluated literature while keeping the theoretical framework in mind.

Rapid forces for change in the post-modern society have left their mark on the labour market, creating a metamorphosis in the nature of work and the way in which careers should be approached. This has resulted in the need for individuals to possess a combination of attributes that will enable them to take an adaptive, proactive approach to their careers, which involves managing their employability. Employability is especially relevant to graduates, who are expected to acquire more than academic capabilities to ‘hit the ground running’ in their transition from higher education to the workplace. Despite the significance of the topic, it remains conceptually ambiguous with few empirical studies that explain its foundation, and fewer still that have constructed a measure explicitly gauging employability, particularly in South Africa. The main purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a measure of graduate employability in the context of the new world of work. A theoretical model of graduate employability was developed based on an extensive review of the literature and the Graduate Employability Measure (GEM) was subsequently constructed. A cross-sectional survey was utilised to collect data from a random sample of final-year undergraduates and postgraduates from the College of Economic and Management Sciences at a higher distance learning institution in South Africa. The 272 useable questionnaires returned were subjected to exploratory factor analysis, which revealed a reliable three-factor model consisting of the dimensions of career self-management drive, career resilience and cultural competence, and explaining 36.42%, 3.5% and 2.97% of the variance respectively. Analysis of variance was used to determine whether there were any significant differences between the biographical variables of the sample and the GEM factors. It was found that females and final-year undergraduates obtained significantly higher means on all the GEM dimensions than males and postgraduates respectively. The findings inform the conceptualisation of the employability construct, the elements it consists of, and how it can be measured in a valid and reliable manner. The GEM has the potential to be useful to students in a career guidance context, to employers that desire to select and develop highly adaptable employees, and to higher education, which can incorporate these important employability attributes in the curriculum to deliver highly employable graduates. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

In a rapid changing environment mining companies have to change the way in which they do business, while employees have to manage their careers and ensure they are multi-skilled. Organisations are looking to employ individuals who are career driven, highly adaptable and flexible and display the necessary employability skills. The main purpose of this study was to determine if any relationship exists between the different factors of graduate employability and work performance in the mining industry in South Africa. A cross-sectional quantitative research approach was followed. A simple random sample was drawn from graduate male and female employees between the ages of 18 – 30 years with any post-matric qualification employed in the mining industry in South Africa. Through the process of exploratory factor analysis, six graduate employability factors and four work performance factors were identified. The graduate employability factors included career self-management drive, cultural competence, career resilience, emotional literacy, career literacy and self-efficacy. The work performance factors included the supervisor role, employee role, recognition and organisation support. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted. The results indicated a relationship between graduate employability and work performance. Strong, positive correlations were found between graduate employability and work performance with career self-management drive being the strongest predictor of work performance. Recommendations for the mining industry focused on how employability could be enhanced to improve work performance. / Human Resource Management / M. Com. (Human Resource Management)

This thesis primarily focuses on employability of graduate of University of Economics in Prague with Accounting and Corporate Financial management field of study on the labor market. The first part presents theoretical background, especially basic information about the Faculty of Finance and Accounting and the above-mentioned field of study. Furthermore, publicly available research regarding employability of graduates are described. The practical part is divided into two main pillars. The first one is the study which consists of two surveys oriented on potential employers and students/graduates. Its main goal is to analyze and typify current situation on the economic labor market. The second part, as well as one of the main aims of this thesis, designs new and practically oriented subject that fulfills basic requirements of curriculum of University of Economics in Prague with respect to the surveys.