Among the requirements for engineering programs, the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) criteria for student outcomes require students to have the ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences, recognize ethical and professional responsibilities, function effectively on a team, and apply new knowledge. A review…

Recent changes in the labour market and higher education sector have placed graduates' employability on the agenda of researchers, policymakers and employers in both advanced and developing economies. Yet, the question of whether higher education equips graduate students with the employability skills employers require remains under-studied…

To further probe the alignment (or misalignment) of university and industry priorities in terms of English language skills development of future accountants, this study extends the earlier investigation of employers' perception on the communication skills needed by entry-level accountants. Using conjoint analysis, this research examines the…

Survey responses from 174 health care employers identified their expectations of entry-level associate degree nursing graduates. Verbal/written communication, accountability, flexibility, and open mindedness ranked highest. Fiscal management competence ranked lowest. (SK)

In a survey of 80 managerial and 130 entry-level computer professionals, most entry workers believed they possessed competencies identified in Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) curricula; most managers did not agree. Most managers rated 28% of ACM competencies moderately to not important; 63% were so rated by entry workers. (SK)

Two groups were surveyed: 127 business students, 49 executives, and 28 faculty in the United States and 177 students, 31 executives, and 76 faculty in New Zealand. Both groups of students valued opportunities for advancement, challenge, and responsibility in their first job. New Zealand professors agreed with their students, U.S. faculty did not.…

There is not enough substance behind a degree to warrant the ubiquitous belief that a stint in higher education is a "sine qua non" for success in America. While college diplomas may translate into higher-paying jobs for some, high school signifies little in the way of education these days, so jaded employers' estimates of the real value of…

A study designed to determine whether career expectations were the same as career opportunities found that business administrators considered that the office administration major prepared women for secretarial jobs, while women university students considered that their major prepared them for administrative positions. The students were also more…

Responding employers from two business samples (286 of 2,700 and 67 of 400) perceived a lack of desired competencies in entry workers. High school graduates rated no higher than 3.07 and college graduates 3.89 on a 7-point scale. Social competencies (sociability, responsibility, self-management, integrity, self-esteem) were thought in need of most…

A study of possible disparity in attitudes and expectations between nursing educators and nurse administrators found little difference between the educational and professional groups but a significant difference between their expectations of entry level baccalaureate nurses and the nurses' performance. (Author/MSE)

Developing the productive capacities of students is a valid function of schooling and is not in conflict or competition with other educational purposes, such as academic excellence. Employers and young workers in the San Francisco Bay area noted attributes that workers need for success in entry-level unskilled or junior professional jobs. These…

In a survey, 80 businesses, mostly small, ranked 13 educational attributes expected of college students with a business education. Factor analysis shows four distinct skill areas expected from an ideal business education program: research, interpersonal, basic, and quantitative skills. In general, employers expect to hire well-rounded students,…

According to both corporate and academic spokespersons, U.S. colleges and universities are turning out job candidates with high levels of domain knowledge. With respect to cross-cultural competence, however, job candidates are much less well prepared. They are unlikely to understand the international dimensions of their major academic field, and…

A community college conducted a study to determine how employers perceived formal education for audio professionals--both baccalaureate and associate degrees from community colleges, employers' training needs, how they judged entry-level employees' qualifications, and the availability of internships and entry-level employment. The study surveyed…

A study identified non-technical skills cited by employers as being either necessary or desirable for obtaining employment in the entry-level professional job market. Also collected was preliminary information concerning the extent to which the identified employability skills are outcomes of the postsecondary general studies curriculum. For the…