Abstract:

Organisations function in a flexible environment that requires dynamic responsiveness to diverse forces that influence their sustainability and growth within an economy. Employers want to recruit graduates who can service the needs of the organisation successfully. The skills and knowledge production by universities is signalled to employers through the institution’s degree programmes content and outcomes that appear on websites or other media. The aim of this study was to explore the contribution of universities to labour-market requirements from an employer’s perspective. In 2018, an online questionnaire was completed by thirty employed graduates, of the selected employer. The intention was to establish graduates’ skills and knowledge shortcomings upon employment.

Graduate responses informed the six focus group sessions held with management teams of the employer to explore:
(1) whether the skills and knowledge reflected in the degree programmes of universities as advertised;
(2) whether the skills and knowledge shortcomings could have been addressed sufficiently by universities.

The results showed that the skills and knowledge required by labour-markets reflect in the degree programmes but that classroom teaching and learning practices are thought to be inept by both employed graduates and employers. The employer feedback can inform effective classroom teaching and learning practices.

Keywords:

Signalling theory, university contribution, labour-market requirements, teaching and learning practices.