Graduate Preparation Research Articles

Readiness for professional practice among health professions education graduates: a systematic review

Readiness to practice is the state of being prepared and capable of engaging in professional activities in a specific field. Graduates of healthcare professions require a diverse set of skills, knowledge and attitudes to meet the demands of complex healthcare settings. This systematic review provides a comprehensive analysis of readiness for professional practice among graduates of health professions education. It encompasses a wide range of articles published between 2013 and 2024, incorporating various health professions and utilizing a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs. The review identified 93 studies from 32 diverse countries. The review revealed that factors influencing readiness to practice, include individual capabilities, the workplace context, and educational provision. It also explored strategies to enhance readiness to practice. The findings underscore the significance of addressing challenges such as lack of confidence, stress, communication, time management, job satisfaction, clinical experience, academic workload, teaching quality, mentorship and curriculum design. This comprehensive analysis serves as a valuable resource for healthcare educators, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to optimize the preparedness of graduates for the complexities of contemporary healthcare environments. Future studies should explore the interactions between readiness to practice stakeholders’ perception of the educational curriculum, and the quality of support in the professional practice environment.

“Bridging the Skill Gaps”: Analyzing the Mismatch between Hospitality Education and Industry Needs in Uganda

This is a persistent problem of skill mismatch between graduates and employers’ needs in the Ugandan hospitality industry, resulting in skill deficits that hamper employability and industry advancement. Identifying the causes of these skill gaps is the aim of this study, together with establishing recommendations to narrow the gap existing between hospitality education and the industry. The study adopted the qualitative case study research design and sampled 26 respondents from recent hospitality graduates and employers, educators or trainers, and policymakers in Kabale District, Uganda. The findings were encoded through thematic analysis. Theoretical orientation is scant with practical and interpersonal skills. Some employers also reported a concern that more attention should be paid to enhancing the practical readiness of graduates at workplaces and that there should be an increased dialog between educational institutions and employers in the hospitality sector. According to the results of the study, there is a need for a closer connection between curricula and industry demands, interconnecting the abilities needed for practical work and soft skills. Recommendations include increasing communication between teachers and supervisors from industry, enhancing internship programs, and including practical aspects. It is recommended that such collaborations be promoted through policy and funding to guarantee the appropriate match of education to the labor market requirements. These steps are relevant for reducing the existing skill gap and making graduates fit for employment opportunities in the industry

Curriculum approaches to strengthening student employability and improving graduate outcomes in the STM disciplines

ABSTRACT In Australia and elsewhere, curriculum improvements are needed to improve the development of Science, Technology and Mathematics (STM) graduates for future work and careers. Several studies document significant STM student attrition, poor graduate preparedness for work, relatively weak employment rates post-graduation, and mismatched expectations of graduate capabilities by employers. The inclusion of work-integrated learning (WIL) activities within curricula can better prepare students for relevant employment by bridging discipline-specific teaching with work practices. Traditionally, access to WIL has been limited for STM Bachelor students and a better understanding of WIL’s benefits and impact is needed to refine and extend STM WIL curricula for different disciplines and cohorts. Through the lens of personal capital resources, this article reports on the perspectives of 34,000 recent Bachelor graduates of Australian STM degrees on their participation in WIL and its impact on their perceived employability and transition to work. Findings indicated differences in engagement in WIL across STM disciplines and underrepresented student groups, yet consistent benefits of WIL on preparedness for work and graduate employment. The study provides valuable insights on gaps in WIL provision and potential ways to improve WIL offerings that support the development of future-capable STM graduates with positive labour market experiences.

Developing Maritime Management Curricula: Aligning Industry-Specific Needs with Sustainability and Emerging Technologies

The maritime industry is rapidly evolving due to technological advancements and increased emphasis on sustainability. This research aims to develop a specialized maritime management curriculum that aligns with the needs of the port, shipping, and logistics sectors while incorporating emerging technologies and sustainability practices. Through qualitative research involving 5 maritime professionals, 5 lecturers, and 5 graduates, this study investigates the current gaps in maritime education and the essential competencies needed in modern maritime professions. Using descriptive analysis, the research provides insights into the integration of applied management studies, technical skills, and innovation into the curriculum. The study identifies key areas where existing curricula fall short, including the underrepresentation of technological and sustainability competencies. By examining the experiences of industry professionals and educational experts, a new curriculum framework is proposed, aiming to enhance graduate readiness for modern challenges. The curriculum effectiveness is evaluated using key performance indicators (KPIs), with a 9/10 score on alignment with industry needs. Comprehensive tables illustrate the scoring across various curriculum components, including technology integration, sustainability, and managerial skills. The findings suggest that the proposed curriculum model can significantly improve the employability of graduates, ensuring that they are equipped to meet the dynamic requirements of the maritime industry. Continuous curriculum development, with feedback from industry stakeholders, is recommended to maintain alignment with evolving industry needs.

Collaborative Models for Community-Driven Industrial Education: Enhancing Workforce Development Through Partnership Programs in Malaysia

This study analyses the value of collaborative education strategies for improving workforce development in Malaysia, focusing on collaborations between educational institutions and industry. In recent years, the Malaysian job market has experienced major challenges, especially in terms of graduate preparation for employment. Many graduates struggle due to inadequate skills and limited employment opportunities, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive educational changes. These coordinated activities aim to bridge the education-industry divide by developing connections between academia and the business sector. Moreover, the study uses a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with industry managers to understand better the impact of partnership programs, government support, and community participation on workforce readiness. Through these interviews, the study emphasizes the importance of collaborative education in providing graduates with the skills and competencies they need to succeed in a competitive work market. The findings show that, while these collaborations significantly boost graduates' employability and skill sets, issues such as unequal access to opportunities and an overreliance on government assistance remain. Furthermore, the analysis discovers gaps in the available literature, particularly in the context of Malaysia, emphasizing the need for further research targeted to this environment. Future research directions will include empirical investigations to quantify the impact of collaborative education initiatives, quantitative analyses to evaluate the efficacy of various programs, and policy recommendations to improve Malaysia's workforce development and foster long-term economic growth. By addressing these issues, the study hopes to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of how collaborative education may effectively bridge Malaysia’s skills gap.

Labor Market Insertion Strategies in the Public Sector: A Study of Untrm Accounting Graduates (2021-2023)

This study analyzes the strategies that favor the labor market insertion of Accounting graduates of the Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza (UNTRM) in public entities during the period 2021-2023. A quantitative methodology was used, with a descriptive and correlational design, applying surveys to 81 graduates. The data were processed using SPSS and inferential statistical techniques such as Pearson's correlation coefficient were used. The results revealed that the main obstacles are lack of work experience and insufficient dissemination of opportunities. The most effective strategies were agreements between the university and public entities, although the need to implement internship and mentoring programs is highlighted. The conclusion is that it is essential to strengthen the preparation of graduates in soft and technological skills to improve their insertion in the public sector.

Development of human capital in Kazakhstan’s higher education institutions: financial investments, faculty qualifications, and research output (2018–2022)

This study examines the development of human capital in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Kazakhstan from 2018 to 2022, focusing on financial investments, infrastructure support, faculty qualifications, research output, and student outcomes. Utilizing comprehensive data from official sources, the analysis reveals significant growth in financial commitment to higher education, with substantial increases in expenditures, revenues, and investments in educational infrastructure. The data indicate a diverse and increasingly qualified faculty, though gender imbalances persist at senior academic levels. Research output, as measured by publications indexed in Scopus, has shown consistent growth, reflecting enhanced research productivity. Student performance metrics, including graduation rates and employment outcomes, highlight the effective preparation of graduates for the job market, with rising average salaries and employment rates. Innovation activities within HEIs, such as patent applications and trademark registrations, demonstrate a dynamic but variable landscape. The study identifies key areas for improvement, including the need for sustained investment, policies promoting gender equality in academia, and support for innovation activities. The findings underscore the importance of aligning educational programs with market needs to further improve graduate employability. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and educational leaders to enhance the quality and competitiveness of higher education in Kazakhstan, contributing to the country’s socio-economic development.

MODEL PERILAKU PENGGUNA APLIKASI QRIS DAN HUBUNGANNYA TERHADAP IMPULSIVE BUYING

This type of research is quantitative research that assesses the QRIS user behavior model and its relationship with Impulsive Buying. Research was conducted on people who use QRIS in carrying out online and offline transactions. This research uses the UTAUT approach. This research also supports IKU 1 Polytechnic LP3I Jakarta, namely the work readiness of graduates because of. In this study there are 4 independent variables (X) and 2 dependent variables (Y), namely, performance expectancy (X1), effort expectancy (X2), social influence (X3), facilitating conditions (X4), behavioral intention (Y1), Impulsive Buying (Y2) Respondents in this study were LP3I Jakarta polytechnic students who belonged to generation Z with a birth year range of 2002-2006 who used QRIS as many as 100 people. For more accurate results, respondents taken were those who had used QRIS >5x. The results of hypothesis testing in this research prove that performance expectancy has a significant positive effect on user behavior intention. This means that performance expectancy influences behavioral intention that the use of QRIS digital payments is very fast and efficient. Hypothesis testing in this research proves that effort expectancy has a significant positive effect on user behavior intention. This means that effort expectancy influences behavior intention so that those using QRIS digital payments can learn and become more skilled in using the new information system

PENGARUH PENGALAMAN MAGANG TERHADAP KESIAPAN KERJA FRESH GRADUATES DI UNIVERSITAS CATUR INSAN CENDEKIA

This study aims to examine the influence of internship experience on the job readiness of fresh graduates at Catur Insan Cendekia University. The research was conducted on fresh graduates of Catur Insan Cendekia University who graduated in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The research method used was quantitative with a descriptive approach by measuring indicators using a Likert scale of 1-5. Data was collected through questionnaires distributed via Google Forms, consisting of 20 statements with a total sample of 84 fresh graduate respondents. Sample selection used the Slovin method. Data analysis techniques used validity testing, reliability testing, simple regression analysis, t-test, and coefficient of determination. The results showed that internship experience had a significant effect on the job readiness of fresh graduates at Catur Insan Cendekia University (t-count 9.473 t-table 1.663). The R-square value of 0.523 or 52.3% indicates that the percentage of the influence of internship experience on job readiness is 52.3%, and the remaining 47.7% is influenced by other variables not included in this study. Keywords: Job Readiness, Internship Experience

Engagement in student organizations and graduates’ readiness to enter the job market

Studies highlight particular concern about the work readiness of university graduates, which potentially leads to many undesirable outcomes, such as rising unemployment rates and low productivity levels in the workplace. This study aims to explore the differences between student organization and work experiences and further analyze student organization’s contribution to graduate’s work readiness. This research uses a qualitative approach with phenomenological methods, and the data is analyzed with thematic data analysis. Data were collected through interviews involving 15 recent graduates actively involved in student organizations and just starting their careers. The study also interviewed two more senior workers to serve as source triangulation, strengthening the validity of the collected data. The study found four key differences between student organizations and the world of work. These differences include primary orientation, feedback and reward system, hierarchical structure, and interaction experiences. The findings also indicate that student organization experiences enhance individual skill development, which later proves helpful in work life. In particular, student organizational experience significantly advances these skills: leadership, time management, self-confidence, problem-solving, integrity, critical thinking, communication, negotiation, teamwork, responsibility, and commitment. Additionally, the record of student organizational participation listed on curriculum vitae can be a valuable asset for recent graduates, enhancing their employment prospects.

Unravelling the Key Ingredients of Employability Skills for Surveyor Graduates: A Systematic Literature Review

The surveying profession has proven its value in the current era of development, as it offers services that generate, enhance, preserve, and protect valuable property and assets. Despite increasing attention, surveying education seems to be falling behind in meeting the demands of the construction industry by producing graduates with essential employability skills. Only a few studies have attempted to review the employability skills expected by employers from surveyor graduates. Therefore, this systematic review aims to identify essential elements of employability skills for surveyor graduates. The preparation of this review follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) review method. A total of 25 related studies were obtained from three databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The findings revealed that the most crucial employability skills expected from surveyor graduates are communication skills (functional work skills), leadership skills (functional work skills), teamwork skills (functional work skills), critical thinking skills (cognitive skills), and emotional intelligence (personal and entrepreneurial skills). Surveying education should consider incorporating these identified skill sets into their curriculum and training modules to ensure the employability and readiness of graduates for the workforce.

Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in School Psychology Science and Scholarship: Changing Training and Practice in the Field of School Psychology

The intentional and sustained actions to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in school psychology science and scholarship, will have reciprocal and dynamic influences on graduate preparation and practice. Herein, the School Psychology Review leadership team provides reflections on several of our intentional efforts, to date, to advocate for and advance DEI in school psychology scholarship, and the associated implications for graduate preparation and practice. Contemporary actions of the School Psychology Review leadership team have included; (a) establishing commitments to advocating for and advancing DEI as the foundation of our scholarship; (b) diversifying journal leadership and editorial board members to reflect the diverse student body school psychologists serve; (c) preparing future diverse journal leadership through mentored editorial fellowship programs, and a student editorial board with members from diverse backgrounds; (d) featuring special topics relevant to further understanding and supporting diverse and minoritized children, youth, families, and school communities; (e) providing professional-development opportunities and resources; (f) implementation of Open Science opportunities in the journal, (g) implementing triple anonymous peer review to reduce bias, and (h) implementing a journal action plan focused on advancing DEI. Collectively these efforts are aimed to influence positive change in advancing and sustaining DEI efforts in school psychology science, scholarship, graduate preparation and practice.

Lulusan Sekolah Vokasi SMK Negeri 14 Medan dan Kebutuhan Industri Global

Vocational education is a balanced combination of theory and practice with an orientation towards the work readiness of graduates. Preparing personnel who can establish expertise and skills in their fields, are ready to work and are able to compete globally.training where students will receive hands-on learning to enter their desired field of work. The creation of links and matches between vocational and industrial worlds is the creation of a joint curriculum. Where the curriculum must be synchronized every year with industry.

The Relationship between Learning Outcomes and Graduate Competences: The Chain-Mediating Roles of Project-Based Learning and Assessment Strategies

Addressing the skill gap between labor market requirements and graduate readiness is crucial for the sustainable development of China’s vocational education system. This study investigated how outcome-based education (OBE) influences the attainment of graduate competence in China’s higher vocational education system, using the theory of Constructive Alignment (CA) as its foundation. The OBE model incorporates intended learning outcomes, project-based learning, and assessment strategies to ensure graduate competence aligns with professional sustainability practices. This study assessed the impact of intended learning outcomes, project-based learning, and assessment strategies on graduate competence attainment through surveys administered to 320 Cross-border E-commerce learners in April 2024, resulting in 301 usable responses. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 24.0. The results indicated that project-based learning and assessment strategies were directly and positively related to graduate competency attainment, while intended learning outcomes were indirectly associated with graduate competence through the mediating roles of project-based learning and assessment strategies. Assessment strategies had the most significant mediating effect, followed by project-based learning and the combined mediating effect. These findings advance the theoretical understanding of OBE and provide methods for promoting sustainability in vocational education. Beneficiaries include educators, policymakers, and accreditation bodies, who can use these insights to implement sustainable educational practices and ensure graduates contribute to sustainable development.

The development of Logix – An application for component-based case logging and surgical trainee assessment

BackgroundThe optimal training program to transform a new resident into a competent and capable surgeon is constantly evolving. Competency-based evaluation represents a change in mindset from quantitative or chronologic metrics for graduate readiness. As surgery becomes more specialized, more dependent on technology, and more public, we must continue to improve our ability to pass on technical skills. Approaching surgery in a component-based fashion enables even the most complex operation to be broken down into smaller sets of steps that range the entire spectrum of complexity. Treating an operation through the lens of its components, emphasizing stepwise forward progression in a trainee's experience, may provide a way to train competent surgeons more efficiently. Current case-logging products do not provide adequate granularity to apply this methodology. MethodsApplication design relied on the involvement of local surgeons from all specialties and subspecialties related to general surgical training. Individual interviews with multiple experts in each field were used to generate a list of most commonly performed operations. Once a consensus was reached, the same surgeons were queried on what they felt were the core steps that make up each operation. This information was utilized to create a novel mobile application which enables the user to record cases by date, attending surgeon, specific operation, and which portions of the operation they were able/allowed to perform. ConclusionComponent-based case logging through the Logix application may be a useful adjunct as we continue to implement competency-based surgical training. Future investigation will assess user experience and compare subjective and objective metrics of training progression between the Logix application and currently utilized products. The information provided by the application stands to benefit not just trainees, but educators, training programs, and regulatory bodies. Key messageComponent-based case logging via a novel mobile application stands to increase the efficiency of surgical training and more effectively assess trainee competency.

Robotic Surgery in Thoracic Training Programs: A National Needs Assessment

BackgroundCardiothoracic surgical trainees perceive a need for more instruction and exposure to robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery during their training. We sought to assess use and trainee exposure to robotic surgery in thoracic residency programs to identify areas for improvement. MethodsA voluntary electronic survey of 10 questions was distributed to surgeons working in all thoracic surgery residency programs in the United States. The survey asked respondents to provide the size of the residency, the availability and use of robots, and the trainee’s adoption of robotic surgery in their practice after graduation. Multivariable logistic regression was performed. ResultsOf a total of 76 cardiothoracic surgery training programs, surgeons from 69 training programs (90.8%) completed the survey. Most pulmonary lobectomy was performed using robotic surgery (55%). Approximately half of the training programs (35 of 69) have a formal robotic curriculum for the residents. Of 121 thoracic track trainees, 118 (97.5%) performed robotic surgery as part of their practice, whereas 62 of 110 (56.4%) cardiothoracic track and 16 of 158 (10.1%) cardiac track trainees performed robotic surgery. In a multivariate analysis, the adoption of robotic surgery was associated with having an established robotic training curriculum (odds ratio, 5.82; 95% CI, 1.32-35.7) and a larger training program (odds ratio, 3.78; 95% CI, 1.34-10.6). ConclusionsA disparity exists in robotic surgical training among the training programs. A standardized curriculum and formal case requirements may be needed to ensure optimal preparation for future graduates.

The Influence of Entrepreneurial Education and Training on Work Readiness of Vocational Beauty and Cosmetology Graduates

The Influence of Entrepreneurial Education and Training on Work Readiness of Vocational Beauty and Cosmetology Graduates

Intercultural Communication Challenges and the Coping Strategies Among Fresh Graduates in the Vuca Era

Higher education has provided a set of curriculum to equip graduates with complete skill sets to enter the industry. Hard skills, as well as soft skills, are inseparable components for graduates to acquire. Industries today have rapidly changed due to the advancement of technology. Almost every aspect of life is going digital; therefore, graduates have to adapt to the simultaneous and continuous changes. In this situation, intercultural communication competence is one of the skills that will accommodate the fresh graduate to face and overcome challenges in the industry, especially in the VUCA era. All industrial players should adapt to the working cultures and adopt the advanced technological changes. This study explores the experience of fresh graduates in the industry regarding intercultural communication challenges and their coping strategies to overcome the situations. The phases of their adaptation towards the work environment will be addressed as well to understand the context better. Interviews were conducted to explore and understand their experience which eventually categorised to identify strategies that could accommodate the continuously changing situation. This study will contribute to the preparation of graduates to enter the workforce as the study found that there are three main challenges faced among fresh graduates regarding skill mismatch, lack of experience, and career adaptability. Furthermore, intercultural communication competence has contributed to their adaptation and coping strategies towards those challenges in their first job. Keywords: Intercultural competence, fresh graduate, soft skills, VUCA, coping strategies.

Pragmatism as a Research Paradigm

A paradigm is a worldview, a set of beliefs, values, traditions, and conventions that shape our understanding of how we know what we know and what knowing is. With this definition in mind, the purpose of this paper is to point out the added value of articulating the research paradigm of a mixed methods case study that examined the preparedness of university graduates for today’s job market. The paper intends to examine how the exploration of participants’ worldviews of the phenomena under inquiry lends itself to pragmatism, a paradigm that underpins the philosophical premise of mixed methods research (MMR). The discussion demonstrates (1) how pragmatism as a research paradigm informs the chosen mixed methods design, and (2) how the chosen research paradigm, pragmatism, values multiplicity of worldviews that enrich the development of viable solutions for the problem under inquiry. Articulating the research paradigm that informs the overall design of a study is oftentimes marginalized especially in case studies. This paper intends to explain the value for highlighting the philosophical paradigm of case studies.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF INDONESIAN HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS' AND GRADUATES' WORK READINESS

This literature review aims to determine the work readiness of undergraduate graduates to meet the qualifications required by employers in the world of work. The method used in this paper involved searching for all studies that examined work readiness and were published from 2019 to 2023. 5 out of 200 studies found on Google Scholar and Scopus were included in this review. Research findings show that programs in higher education, including internships and soft skills training, play an important role in increasing graduates' work readiness, demonstrating that the MBKM Program has effectively developed the skills and competencies required by the world of work. Research discussions highlight that these programs, including internships and soft skills training within the MBKM Program, are crucial for ensuring the relevance of education to job market needs. This research presents novelty by exploring and identifying the factors that influence the job readiness of prospective undergraduate graduates after participating in the Independent Campus Learning Program (MBKM), thus offering a new perspective in the context of higher education in Indonesia. The implications of this research are significant for curriculum development and learning programs in universities, which must continue to develop programs that support the development of soft skills and hard skills to increase graduates' work readiness.