APPRAISAL OF EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS OF UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES: THE 21ST CENTURY KEY TO FUNCTIONAL EDUCATION

Abstract

Research evidence revealed that the quality of graduates in Nigeria is on a rapid decline especially in the area of valuable and complementary life skills. Also, researchers have established that subject-specific knowledge and skills alone are unlikely to secure a graduate occupation in which they can be both successful and satisfied. Hence, this study evaluated the extent to which university undergraduates in North West Nigeria possessed employability skills. This study employed a survey research design. The population comprises all 2018/2019 final year university undergraduates in North West Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling approach using Simple Random and Proportional Sampling technique was employed to select 697 respondents from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, 350 respondents from Federal University Gusau and 330 respondents from Federal University Birnin Kebbi. The research instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire entitled “Employability Indices Questionnaire”. The research instrument was validated by seven experts. The instrument was trial tested on a population that is similar but not among the sampled population; and Cronbach’s Alpha was used to estimate a reliability coefficient of 0.82 and 0.96 for Employability Perception Scale and Employability Skills Scale respectively. Three research questions guided the study; while data collected were analyzed using summated scale. The major findings of the study revealed that majority of university undergraduates in North West Nigeria perceived themselves to have high knowledge of employability, yet further finding revealed that majority of the respondents perceived themselves to have high need of Life-long Learning Skill and Team-work Skills. This implies that the respondents have low level of Life-long Learning and Team-work Skills. As such, it was recommended that University Management should improve standard by making Employability Skills a development priority area for its undergraduates before their graduation. Both instruction and assessment of undergraduates should challenge and develop students’ Life-long learning skill, Team-work skills and other relevant skills before their graduation. University Management should encourage her students to develop and demonstrate employability skills like Life-long learning skill, Team-work skills, information and communication technology knowledge, numeracy skill, communication skill, creativity and problem solving skills.