Graduate employability skills have become one of the most important topics on the higher education agenda in the first decade of the 21st century. In the United States, and throughout the world, global competition, growth of a knowledge-based economy, technological advances, and the multigenerational workforce have combined to substantially alter the contemporary workplace (Gedye & Chalkey, 2006). Whether by choice or circumstance, the expectation of a secure lifelong position with one employer and the opportunity for linear career progression are no longer typical nor practical in the contemporary workplace (Harvey, Locke, & Morey, 2002). Employability skills are those skills, attributes, and behaviors, e.g., communication skills, problem-solving, organization, and planning, that bridge most disciplines, industries, and employing organizations. They have the greatest impact on the sustained, productive, successful employment of graduates (Cranmer, 2006; Gedye, Fender, & Chalkey, 2004). The purpose of this study was to (a) identify the employability skills employers perceive to be important for entry-level management/management-in-training positions in the hospitality industry, (b) to establish employability skills competency levels employers expect for these positions, and (c) to garner employer perceptions of Rosen College of Hospitality Management (RCHM) interns’ and new graduates’ employability skills competence for entry-level management/management-in-training positions in the hospitality industry. The findings add to the body of literature and provide insight into the need for further employability skills development of students prior to graduation and entrance into iv the workforce. Additionally, the study provides information and insight for faculty, career services, and experiential learning professionals regarding the skills students currently possess, the need for further skills development, and those skills employers deem most important

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Library and Information Studies in the Department of Information and Corporate Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2008. / This study investigated the job functions of university and university of technology graduates and diplomates in the staff structures of special libraries and engineering firms in KwaZulu-Natal. The objective of the study was to draw on possible trends and best practices in the latter for the Library and Information Services (LIS) work environment, as engineering like LIS draws its personnel from both traditional universities and universities of technology (UoT). Hence, the main target population for the study was university and UoT graduates and diplomates in special libraries and engineering firms in KZN. Graduates and diplomates were chosen for inclusion in the study using a census because of the smallness of the staff complements in these organizations. Two sets of self-administered questionnaires were distributed, one to graduates/diplomates and the other to employers in the selected organizations. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Findings of the study revealed inconsistencies with the National Diploma: Library and Information Studies (ND: LIS) where these diplomates occupy paraprofessional as well as professional positions in special libraries whilst engineering graduates and diplomates tend to occupy job titles according to their highest academic qualifications. In both special libraries as well as in the engineering environment there is much task overlap and downshifting of job functions between paraprofessional and professional university and UoT graduates and diplomates. This study has revealed a valuable best practice from the engineering discipline for the LIS profession, which is that of professional registration. Professional registration of engineering staff with the Engineering Council of South Africa is a statutory requirement in the engineering profession and allows for the growth and development of those in the profession. It is recommended that the LIS profession, and the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) specifically, investigate a mechanism for professional registration of library and information workers.

The purposes of this study were to determine the employment status of North Texas State University clothing and textiles majors who graduated between 1969 and 1978 and to provide a measurement of their job satisfaction. The data were gathered through two mailed questionnaires, a general one developed by the researcher, and the Job Descriptive Index, a standardized job satisfaction index. Graduates in clothing and textiles tended to seek and obtain employment related to their major field of study, and they are generally satisfied with their jobs. Factors tested statistically in this study included age, marital status, parental status, salary, tenure, and organization size. No significant differences in job satisfaction or employment tatus were evident relative to any of these factors.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Library and Information Studies in the Department of Information and Corporate Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2008. / This study investigated the job functions of university and university of technology graduates and diplomates in the staff structures of special libraries and engineering firms in KwaZulu-Natal. The objective of the study was to draw on possible trends and best practices in the latter for the Library and Information Services (LIS) work environment, as engineering like LIS draws its personnel from both traditional universities and universities of technology (UoT). Hence, the main target population for the study was university and UoT graduates and diplomates in special libraries and engineering firms in KZN. Graduates and diplomates were chosen for inclusion in the study using a census because of the smallness of the staff complements in these organizations. Two sets of self-administered questionnaires were distributed, one to graduates/diplomates and the other to employers in the selected organizations. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Findings of the study revealed inconsistencies with the National Diploma: Library and Information Studies (ND: LIS) where these diplomates occupy paraprofessional as well as professional positions in special libraries whilst engineering graduates and diplomates tend to occupy job titles according to their highest academic qualifications. In both special libraries as well as in the engineering environment there is much task overlap and downshifting of job functions between paraprofessional and professional university and UoT graduates and diplomates. This study has revealed a valuable best practice from the engineering discipline for the LIS profession, which is that of professional registration. Professional registration of engineering staff with the Engineering Council of South Africa is a statutory requirement in the engineering profession and allows for the growth and development of those in the profession. It is recommended that the LIS profession, and the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) specifically, investigate a mechanism for professional registration of library and information workers.

The number of unemployed young university graduates in South Africa is annually on the rise. This is due to a combination of factors which include a lack of the right skills, work experience, type of qualification, low number of available jobs and other macro-economic factors. Different stakeholders have proposed entrepreneurship as a possible solution to graduate unemployment. This study explores the feasibility of entrepreneurship as a way out of unemployment for jobless graduates. It does this by investigating the perceptions of young graduates of the University of KwaZulu-Natal who are engaged in entrepreneurship in Pietermaritzburg. The qualitative method of interviews is used for data collection. Two major areas of investigation in this study are that of the challenges that graduates encounter in their various business ventures as well as their perceptions about the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education at university. Generally the findings of this study seem to suggest that entrepreneurship, if developed properly, could be one of the solutions to the challenge of graduate unemployment. However a number of factors determine successful entrepreneurship. These include personality traits, intelligence, access to finance, good business management skills, family background as well as the general economic environment. The findings could also generally suggest that, in its current form, entrepreneurship education is not effective enough in producing graduates who are successful in business. / Thesis (M.Com.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

"2006" / Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Australian Centre for Educational Studies, Institute of Higher Education Research and Development, 2007. / Bibliography: p. 167-173. / Introduction -- Experience and expression -- Becoming a professional -- Study design -- Graduates' experiences: a narrative -- Reflections on communication -- Examples of texts -- Reflections on learning and teaching -- Reflections and implications. / The aim of this study is to inform curriculum change in the mathematical sciences at university level. This study examines the transition to professional work after gaining a degree in the mathematical sciences. Communication is used as the basis for the analysis of the transition because of the importance of language choices in work situations. These experiences form part of the capabilities that become part of a person's potential to work as a professional. I found a subtle form of power and, of the opposite, lack of power due to communication skills. It is not as obvious as in, say, politics but it is just as critical to graduates and to the mathematical sciences. -- There were 18 participants in the study who were graduates within five years of graduation with majors in the mathematical sciences. In-depth interviews were analysed using phenomenography and examples of text from the workplace were analysed using discourse analysis. Descriptions of the process of gaining employment and the use of mathematical discourse have been reported in the thesis using narrative style with extensive quotes from the participants. -- The research shows that graduates had three qualitatively different conceptions of mathematical discourse when communicating with a non-mathematical audience: jargon, concepts/thinking and strength. All participants modified their use of technical terms when communicating with non-mathematicians. Those who held the jargon conception tried to simplify the language in order to explain the mathematics to their audience. Those who held the concepts/thinking conception believed that the way of thinking or the ideas were too difficult to communicate and instead their intention with mathematical discourse was to inspire or sell their ability to work with the mathematics. The strength conception considers the ethical responsibility to communicate the consequences of mathematical decisions. Not one of the participants believed that they had been taught communication skills as part of their degree. -- Participants gained a 'mathematical identity' from their studies and acquiring a degree gave them confidence and a range of problem-solving skills. Recommendations are made about changes in university curriculum to ensure that graduates are empowered to make a high-quality transition to the workplace and be in a position to use their mathematical skills. Mathematical skills are necessary but not sufficient for a successful transition to the workplace. Without the ability to communicate, graduates are unable to release the strength of their knowledge. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / xi, 195 p. ill

The problem of this study was to investigate the value of various entry-level employment skills and areas of knowledge for broadcast education graduates as perceived by commercial broadcasters. Particular attention was placed on identifying entry-level employment positions and on analyzing the skills and areas of knowledge preferred for each position.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / The study was planned to investigate the relevance of the National Certificate Vocational tourism programme for the South African tourism industry in terms of the employability and skills required by tourism students to work in the tourism industry, once they graduated. The main objective of this study was to identify the challenges facing the National Certificate Vocational tourism programme, with sub-objectives focussing on the level of graduates’ employability, articulation from the National Certificate Vocational programme to higher education, as well as on the skills and abilities needed by National Certificate Vocational lecturers to teach in their specific field. The research was conducted in the form of an empirical survey to gather information using research questionnaires. A mixed methods approach, using both a quantitative and qualitative methodology, was employed to gather relevant data for the study. Qualitative questionnaires were distributed to a target population comprising conveniently selected National Certificate Vocational Tourism graduates (a total sample of 100), and National Certificate Vocational lecturers (a sample of 50 suitably qualified persons), at four Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges in the Western Cape. Personal interviews were conducted with ten conveniently selected tourism industry employers and role-players. Ten specifically identified representatives of tourism and government education departments and other government organisations were also part of the target population. The first part of the study looked at the history of Vocational Education and how it is practised in other countries. The history of the National Certificate Vocational programmes within South Africa is explained, as well as the challenges facing the National Certificate Vocational tourism qualification and its relevance to the tourism industry in South Africa. Results from the research suggested that National Certificate Vocational tourism students are only employable in small to medium micro enterprises (SMMEs) once they graduate. It was concluded that graduates would need more experience and practical knowledge to be employable in the wider tourism labour market. The results confirm that the updated National Certificate Vocational tourism curriculum is critically important to make the qualification more relevant to the South African tourism industry.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration (Entrepreneurship)))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Graduates face challenges to secure relevant employment; even worse, obtaining a qualification does not guarantee employment or employability. The labour market no longer only searches for a qualification but also for a set of skills. Graduates are required to improve upon proficiencies that would qualify for positive performance and would benefit the employer to use for business purposes. In addition, scarcities of expertise, besides working environment knowledge, indicate that businesses are unwilling to employ graduates, hiring more experienced people as an option. This research has studied the developing concept of social entrepreneurship; but principally examined the context in which social entrepreneurship can be used to improve graduate employability. A quantitative method was used with the help of a structured questionnaire in order to achieve a high level of reliability in relation to data analysis. The subjects for this research comprised 187 social entrepreneurs who are formally registered as non-profit organisations within Cape Town, and are registered on the Western Cape Charity South Africa database. The data collected for this study were analysed and illustrated using tables, bars and pie charts. It is hoped that this study will not merely add to the knowledge of social business enterprise, but also disclose the likely roles that social entrepreneurs can play to improve graduate employability. / National Research Foundation(NRF)

The purpose was to investigate career expectations and goals of junior and senior fashion merchandising majors at North Texas State University and to compare findings with expectations for trainees of retail employers with executive training programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The findings indicated that most female students are planning their career goals in business for the next five years. Students are confused as to what employee benefits they might receive at the entry level. College recruitment is an important method of hiring executive trainees. Length of training programs vary from six months to three years. At the time of the study, trainees could expect a beginning salary of nine to ten thousand dollars.