Abstract:

This paper aims to explore if higher education students perceive that they have developed employability skills while getting their degrees. To do so, a survey was conducted among the students enrolled in the final year of several undergraduate degrees (Business and Management studies, Labor Relations and Human Resources studies, Tourism studies, double degree in Law and Business studies, and double degree in Tourism and Business studies) taught at Universidad de Alicante. The results disclose a number of competences that are considered necessary to improve students’ employability, such as: negotiation skills, detection of opportunities, digital skills, problem-solving skills, public speaking, report writing and languages. Our students believe that a university degree is significant but not a determinant factor to get a job, and that having working experience is more important. They consider, therefore, that they should be given the opportunity to engage in more practical settings, such as training programs, while pursuing their degrees.

Keywords:

Students’ perception, employability, competences, higher education.