Assessing Tertiary-level ESP Enhancement Criteria for Ameliorating Occupational Mobility: Commerce and Industry Perceptions

Abstract

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is designed to be learned and practiced as an essential component for employment preparation or occupational mobility. Learners aspire to utilize their ESP skills to enhance their occupational achievement and mobility. The objective of this study is to determine how to effectively enhance ESP learning to meet occupational needs with limited resources and time constraints. This study was conducted using an analytic hierarchy process to prioritize all factors of ESP enhancement plans among participants who often engage in staff acquisition, performance appraisal, and career development planning in the global business community. While aiming to enhance learners’ ESP level to improve their competitiveness in the workforce, this study considers four main criteria. Each criterion has sub-criteria/alternatives; these amount to 19 in total. The results show that among the four criteria, the main concerns of participants are the employees’ ESP proficiency certificate accreditation; and among the 19 sub-criteria/alternatives, the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) ranked the highest for achieving occupational mobility. All these factors can facilitate the determination and prioritization of the targets for ESP enhancement as well as for acquainting ESP practitioners with employers’ requirements and effectively meeting them by altering the lesson plans accordingly. Moreover, learners can strengthen their employment potential by using the ESP qualification to achieve a smoother career path.