A Framework For The Integration Of Graduate Employability Attributes In The Curricula Of Management Sciences At Higher Education Institutions In Namibia

ABSTRACT

The industry in Namibia has persistently expressed dissatisfaction about the quality of graduates from institutions of higher learning, alleging that graduates are not adequately prepared for the world of work. They claim that graduates need other attributes apart from discipline specific knowledge and skills. Graduate attributes are the skills, personal attributes and values which should be acquired by all graduates regardless of their discipline or field of study. The aim of the study was therefore to investigate the present state of enhancing graduate attributes in the curricula of management sciences in Namibia, and to suggest a framework for the integration of graduate employability attributes in curricula. The study was carried out using a mixed-methods research approach and applying a sequential explanatory design. The research design consisted of two distinct phases, firstly to collect and analyse quantitative data, and secondly to collect and analyse qualitative data. During the quantitative phase, a survey method with questionnaires was employed to determine perspectives of employers, management sciences graduates and lecturers regarding graduate employability. Survey questionnaires were distributed to graduates who have completed Bachelor degree in management sciences discipline at higher education institutions in Namibia, a similar questionnaire was administered higher education staff in Namibia that is teaching courses in management sciences. Furthermore, a similar questionnaire was administered to the employers of graduates. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics with SPSS statistical software.