Undergraduate employability training and employment: A UAE study

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning

Publication Date

2-8-2016

Abstract

© Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between female undergraduate student participation in a university-sponsored employment skills development program and employment post-graduation. Design/methodology/approach-From historical institutional data a random sample was analyzed using the logistic regression model. The main variable investigated was participation in the World of Work (WOW) program during undergraduate study. It was hypothesized that participation would contribute positively to the probability of employment after graduation. Findings-Grade point average at the time of graduation was also expected to have a positive relationship with employability. The study found that those who participated in the WOW program while undergraduates were more 6.7 times more likely to find post-graduate employment than non-participants. Research limitations/implications-Data were collected at a single institution as such findings may not be generalizable. Practical implications-This study provides support for the inclusion of employability training at the tertiary level and provides evidence to support resourcing such initiatives. Social implications-The study supports the development of work-ready, nationals and to supplying the UAE economy with needed human capital, in particular the goal of Emiratization. Originality/value-This study is of one of very few in the Arabian Gulf region to examine employability factors of university graduates.

ISSN

2042-3896

Publisher

Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.

Volume

6

Issue

1

First Page

100

Last Page

115

Disciplines

Education

Keywords

Employability, Employment, Experiential learning, Undergraduates, United Arab Emirates

Scopus ID

84955563073

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS