Abstract:

Employability skills have become very imperative in the present day Nigeria due to the prevailing unemployment situation. This is because they focus on equipping students with work related skills that are most sought after by employers of labour. This therefore underscores the need to enhance students employability skills in universities. This study which adopted survey research design, sought to assess university students' perspective on employability skills for work placement. The sample comprised 400 students drawn from a population of all final year students in universities in South- South region of Nigeria.

Two research questions and one hypothesis were evolved to guide the study. Data collection was effected through a researcher developed questionnaire titled "Employability Skills Questionnaire". The instrument's reliability coefficient using Cronbach Alpha method was 0.84. Frequencies, simple percentages, mean and population t-test were employed for data analysis. Results obtained indicated that the university curriculum in its present form is inadequate in enhancing students' employability skills. Results also indicated that the level of acquisition of employability competence of students were significantly low in terms of possession of team work skills, planning skills, information and communication technology skills, problem solving skills, analytical skills, leadership skills, critical thinking, and initiative skills. Among others, the study recommended that universities should regularly update their curriculum to meet the demands of the labour market. Also, students should be placed on industrial attachment for a significant duration of at least one semester through practicum or internship to enhance their acquisition of work related skills.

Keywords:

Assessing, university students, employability skills, work placement.