Abstract
Twenty first century employers need quality graduates to be competitive in global currents. This study was conducted to identify the importance of employability skills constructs required to improve the work performance based on the perception of the immediate supervisor’s in the polytechnic electronic graduates’ job role. This study uses a descriptive survey study involving a quantitative approach. Data collection was done by obtaining and analyzing quantitative data through self-developed questionnaire consisting of 31 items based on seven constructs of employability skills such as communication skills; personal qualities; teamwork skills; critical thinking skills and problem solving; technology skills; organizational skills and continuous learning skills. The sample consists of 170 immediate supervisors who represent the employers in four units of electrical and electronics industries namely research and development unit, maintenance unit, production unit and; quality and assurance unit. The findings of the quantitative study were analyzed using the Winstep V3.69.1.11 software. The findings of the analysis of the importance level of employability skills construct needed to improve work performance in all units are high with different priority rankings based on the role of graduates in the unit. In addition, the findings also show that critical thinking skills and problem solving are the most important employability skill constructs as well as the personal qualities and the latter are technology skills that must be owned and possesses by graduates who choose career paths in the electrical and electronic industries. Therefore, with the clarity of the concept of employability skills based on the job role as a result of this study it will facilitate graduates to adapt to the current wave of industrial change towards the concept of industry 4.0 with the application of precise employability skills oriented in the polytechnic electrical engineering curriculum.
Highlights
Employers in the 21st century look for candidates who have high competitiveness and are able to adapt to the rapid changes in the industry rather than just having good academic achievement (Rasul et al, 2009; Yusoff et al, 2010; Johari et al, 2011; Hamzah & Abdullah; Selvadurai et al, 2012)
The results of the analysis show the important level of employability skills construct required to improve work performance based on the perception of immediate supervisor’s in the Research and Development unit at high levels
The immediate supervisor puts critical thinking skills and problem solving on the first rank with mean measure = -0.72 logit and mean score = 4.49; The ranking is personal quality with mean measure = -0.64 logit and mean score = 4.46; communication skills with mean measure = -0.10 logit and mean score = 4.31; organizational skills with mean measure = 0.11 logit and mean score = 4.25; continuous learning skills with mean measure = 0.20 and mean score = 4.22; teamwork skills with mean measure = 0.42 and mean score = 4.15; and the final ranking construct is technology skill with mean measure = 0.61 and mean score = 4.09
Summary
Employers in the 21st century look for candidates who have high competitiveness and are able to adapt to the rapid changes in the industry rather than just having good academic achievement (Rasul et al, 2009; Yusoff et al, 2010; Johari et al, 2011; Hamzah & Abdullah; Selvadurai et al, 2012). Employers emphasize that graduates lack the employability skills required by employers (Junaidah, 2012; Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, 2012) This is due to the failure of development and the mastery of employability skills while they are in institutions of study and this can inhibit their transfer in the work environment (Tymon, 2011). & Jones (2000) in his study found that universities face difficulties in educating and training their students who will handle the needs of employers The presence of these skills gaps has put pressure on institutions of higher learning to consider how the academy can play an important role in providing graduates to prepare for the labor market needs and challenges (Martin, Milne-Home, Barrett, Spalding, & Jones, 2000)
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