Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'College graduates – Employment – Canada'
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1
Partridge, May Sheila Stella. "Strategies of employment and family : university-educated women in Canada and Hong Kong /." Thesis, Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1996. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B17594534.
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Robinson, J. Shane. "Graduates' and employers' perceptions of entry-level employability skills needed by Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources graduates." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/4328.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006.The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (March 1, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.
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Wicomb, Samuel Domingo. "Graphic design students’ perceptions of work practice." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2391.
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Thesis (MTech (Graphic Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The aim of this study was to examine how students experience the transition from the classroom to the workplace. This research explored what factors students found problematic and which factors was helpful during the transition. This research was qualitative and this study focused on the experiences of the participants and all data was collected from their perception of work practice. I used Activity Theory as a theoretical framework to compile and organize relevant data. Data was gathered using video recordings, hand written journal entries and individual interviews. The research was conducted in an on-campus design studio that is situated within the Design Faculty at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The reason for choosing Design Logic as a site is the following; the studio sits neatly between the classroom and the workplace, although the studio is in a protected environment, most of the elements that are present in a real world setup is reflected within Design Logic i.e. the stresses of satisfying demanding clients, working with budgets, liaising with suppliers and the ever present looming deadlines all form part of the daily make-up of Design Logic. Although the starting point of the study was to search for the problem areas of the student’s transition into the work place, the analyzed data revealed the dissimilarities between the two systems and how the participants overcame the difference i.e. shifting identities and rules and norms to develop new skills suited for the work place. The workspace opened a Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and highlighted the value and importance of work practice in preparation of graduates for industry.
4
Shecter, Marna A. "Network, discipline and income : the social mobility of Ontario university graduates." Thesis, McGill University, 1992. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=61063.
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This thesis examines the link between background factors to educational attainment, discipline choice, how first job was found and income at that first job. Findings are based on results of a panel study of Ontario high school students. Using human capital theory and comparing and contrasting it with the radical and credentialist arguments, I create a model to further specify the contributing factors to the already well established link between education and jobs. The results produced from the interactive causal model indicate that past research has neglected certain variables while confounding others. Specifically, while the findings are generally consistent with other empirical work, they suggest that (i) education should be treated as a more differentiated variable, (ii) the role of networks in job search behaviour should be included, (iii) gender differences should be considered and, (iv) that non additive models will often provide a better description of the data. Finally, it is also suggested that future work explore the possibility that the relationship between job search behaviour and discipline choice can best be described using a non-recursive causal model.
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Chik, Razmi Bin. "Early employment outcomes of home versus foreign trained graduates : a Malaysian experience." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/1922.
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This study compares the early employment outcomes of Malaysian graduates who are trained locally versus those who were trained abroad, specifically in universities in the United States and United Kingdom. The study examined the employment outcomes in terms of level of income and job satisfaction. A total of 408 graduates were surveyed for the study. The respondents who were selected randomly nation wide were of similar major of studies. One of the objectives of the study was to find out whether the amount of money spent to train student abroad which can cost up to four times the cost of training students locally is justified. Early research reported that in developing countries, foreign trained graduates were accorded higher income when compared to their counterparts who were trained locally. However, this study indicated that location of study was not significant in explaining the variation of income of graduates. Using regression techniques, the differences in income level was found to be significantly explained by the flowing variables; gender, job, duration, self-esteem, employers' ownership, academic majors and English proficiency. It was also reported that both cohorts of graduates were equally satisfied in their jobs. It was interesting to note that female graduates were also satisfied in theirjobs despite earning less than the males graduates. Job fit index, self-esteem, income, specific self-esteem and satisfaction with university facilities, were found to be significant in explaining the differences in job safisfaction. The study. also compared the attributes and experiences of the two cohorts interms of socio economic and high school background and university and job experiences. It was also reported that there is upward social mobility of graduates as a result of the heavy investment in higher education. The results of the study could be seen as useful, first, to the policy makers in making the right decision in some aspects of investing a large a mount of money in higher education. Secondly, to potential university students in Malaysia, the study will help them to plan their academic careers to suit their future employment opportunities.
6
Johnston, Justin R. "The juxtaposition of soon-to-be college graduates and hiring professionals." Birmingham, Ala. : University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. https://www.mhsl.uab.edu/dt/2010r/johnston.pdf.
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Thesis (M.A.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009.Title from PDF t.p. (viewed June 30, 2010). Additional advisors: Loretta A. Cormier, James C. McCroskey, Larry Powell. Includes bibliographical references (p. 25-29).
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Zastoupil, Kristin L. Stone Sara J. Bishop Mike Vitanza Dianna M. Sturgill Amanda Colson. "Employment success of university journalism graduates : a survey comparing classroom practices and departmental requirements with graduates' job placement and salary rates /." Waco, Tex. : Baylor University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2104/4884.
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Hatch, Wendy E. "The experience of unemployment for university graduates under 25 years of age." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/25421.
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An exploratory study was conducted to discover significant events and feelings attached to those events during the experience of unemployment for university graduates under 25 years of age. Twelve university graduates of mixed sex, under the age of 25 were interviewed. The phenomenological/critical incident methodology adapted by Amundson and Borgen (1984) was utilized. The experience was found to be comprised of two segments: the initial holiday period, and the downward trend. Idiosyncratically occurring positive and negative critical incidents were identified. Job search activities were found to be most closely aligned with middle class professionals rather than less educated youth findings. The subjects were found to channel their energy into new areas of interest and activity, particularly further education in spite of feelings of disillusionment. These results may aid counsellors in understanding the experience of unemployed university graduates, and lead to more effective therapeutic interventions for this population.Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate
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Meers, Alan. "An Identification Of Affective Characteristics Which Employers Are Seeking In Bible College Graduates." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1995. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1460.
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Bible colleges are committed to helping students develop the skills which employers of their graduates are seeking in entry-level employees. Generally speaking, both colleges and employers are satisfied with the training and assessment in the cognitive and psychomotor domains, however the affective domain is of real concern to colleges and employers alike. This project sought to provide colleges with an instrument capable of assessing the developmental level of students in regard to the affective characteristics that employers of their graduates are seeking in entry level employees. There is a large body of literature, both secular and religious, suggesting that tertiary courses must include affective education if graduates are to perform their roles with any degree of excellence. The literature reviewed revealed that Christian organisations expect Bible college students to possess a range of character traits and, while a number of studies similar to the present project have been conducted, none of them has focussed on the characteristics that employers are seeking in new employees.
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Kan, Mee-lin Hayley. "Local talent and international standards the emergence of global graduate employment in Hong Kong /." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2009. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B42664676.
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Agelasto, Michael Alexander. "Social relationships and job procurement by graduates : case study of a Chinese university /." Thesis, Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1996. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B20263788.
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Harding, Trina Hansen. "Understanding English Literature and Composition Graduates' Experiences Entering the Workforce Following Graduation." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2021. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/8959.
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As college degrees become more common and the cost of these degrees increases, so does the debate about the worthwhileness and value of a college education, and of specific college degrees. One side of the debate uses statistical data about starting salaries and unemployment rates to claim that degrees within the humanities and liberal arts do not provide a good return on investment while the other side claims that a liberal arts education fosters the broad so-called "soft skills†that employers value most. However, both sides of the debate have neglected the perspectives of the graduates themselves, particularly as they transition from the university environment to the workforce. In this exploratory mixed-methods study I sought to understand this transition and English graduates' perceptions of their degree, first through semi-structured interviews with 8 participants who graduated between 2010 and 2019, and then through the responses of 338 graduates from the same time frame who participated in a validation survey used to determine the pervasiveness of the themes identified in the interviews. I learned that, while the initial transition from degree to employment is challenging for many English graduates, most eventually found work that they are satisfied with. Perceptions of the English degree vary over time, but most participants recognized the skills they gained in the English major and appreciate the professional value of these skills, especially later on in their careers. Participants identified some factors, such as networking, prior internship and work experience, and completing a minor that made for a more positive transition to employment. They also pointed to ways that the English department could better prepare students for and support them during this transition including encouraging more applied experiences, helping students recognize their English skills, and better identify and talk about potential career paths open to English majors.
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Liu, Dian, and 刘電. "University graduates and the job search in urban China : an examination of the culture of personal advancement." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/207204.
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In China‘s expanded higher education, middle and upper middle class students continue to outpace those from less privileged backgrounds not only in job access but also occupational attainment. Literature depends mainly on social capital theory, attributing the advantages of middle class students in the graduate labour market to their higher status contacts and vaster social networks. Yet, literature has largely ignored the influence of growing market mechanisms in the graduate labour market, as well as the agency of individual job seekers.
Inspired by cultural capital theory, this study is devoted to understanding the cultural processes that underlie individual advancement in a stratified society. Emphasizing the influences of cultural capital in the process and outcome of job searching, this study argues that the advantage of middle class students during job search is determined not only by the higher status contacts embedded in their family social network, but by the tight link between parental involvement, accepted institutional policies and practices, and ideal notions of personhood, i.e., a highly synthesized cultural advancement system.
Between January and June, 2012, 60 fourth-year students from two universities in Wuhan were interviewed. Drawing upon these data, it is found that, firstly, the family cultivated certain qualities at the early stage before the student entered higher education. What‘s more, middle class parents always keep their children on the right track of the ‘standard middle class career path‘, and sometimes even act in a more assertive role to ‗correct‘ students‘ derailed inclinations. However, the parents of underprivileged students know little about campus life and the job searching experiences of their children.
Secondly, the ―excellence‖ emphasized in school discourse aligns with middle class values. Middle class students are very familiar with the cultural codes and manners required to obtain this ―excellence.‖ Additionally, the evaluation criteria and award mechanisms prevailing on campus also favor the performance of middle class students. Their awards, usually in the form of certificates, prizes or titles, are directly interpreted into higher employability during their job search, contributing to greater opportunities of the middle class during their job search.
And thirdly, shaped by their socialization both at home and school, middle class students manage to accumulate a whole set of class-based dispositions towards control and success while underprivileged students fail to do so. Guided by these dispositions, middle class students employ purposeful strategies and demeanours on campus in order to cater to the labour market‘s requirements.
The findings suggest that social reproduction during job search is due to the mixed functioning of the cultural advancement system, taking into consideration the negotiation and interaction between the contextual features, i.e., the gradually implemented market mechanism, inadequate legal enforcement, and guanxi as a cultural psychology. This study suggests that the cultural advancement system could be extended through more scholarly thesis to explain how the middle class continue to pull ahead of lower classes, thus perpetuating class inequality in transitional China.published_or_final_version
Education
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy
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Masinghe, Egodage Kusumawathie. "Female labour force participation in Sri Lanka with special reference to graduate women." Master's thesis, Canberra, ACT : The Australian National University, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/131159.
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This study is an analysis of the economic activity of
women focussing on secondary and university educational
development in Sri Lanka. In this study males are compared
to females to ascertain levels of labour force participation
of females; all women are compared to graduate women to show
the effects of education on labour force participation of
women.
Educational policies prevalent in Sri Lanka have
resulted in an expansion of secondary and university
education for females. However, currently available sources
of data are inadequate to study the quality of education or
the effects of education on socio-demographic and sociocultural
and economic factors that influence labour force
participation of females. Differences in definitions used
by different censuses and surveys to collect information on
the economic activity of the population of Sri Lanka create
serious problems of comparability of time series data.
Even though the male labour force in Sri Lanka is
larger than the female labour force, the female labour force
has grown much faster with increasing numbers of educated
females entering the labour force. Those with education up
to university level have tended to have the highest levels
of labour force participation, with more than 90 per cent of
graduate women being employed. Most graduate women are
employed in the government sector in professional, technical
and related occupations, with a majority in the teaching profession. A considerable number of female graduates are
in mismatched employment.
Unemployment is acute among economically active
females, particularly those who have junior and senior
secondary educational qualifications.
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Holton, Elwood F. "Organizational entry by new college graduates: implications for human resource development and universities." Diss., Virginia Tech, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/39833.
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The success of an organization's employees is affected by many factors, including the organizational entry process itself. While much emphasis is given to the selection of new employees and developing them for future advancement, organizations, employees and universities often overlook the critical process of transforming the new employee from naive outsider to knowledgeable insider capable of making a significant contribution. Although the research shows that the first year is a critical time period, the organizational entry and socialization processes are not well understood. In particular, very little research is available to describe the process from the new employee's perspective rather than the organizations.
The central question of this study is: what exactly do new college graduates encounter as they enter work organizations and does that experience affect their opinions and attitudes. An exploratory, descriptive study of Virginia Tech's May 1990 undergraduate graduating class was conducted to systematically describe and analyze their transition from college into work organizations. Key research questions included analyzing demographic characteristics; the effectiveness of their preparation for the transition; their perceptions of the organizational entry experience; their opinions about their first jobs and organizations; their understanding of their organization's structure and culture; the extent to which their expectations about the job were met; their attitudes toward their organizations; the tactics and strategies they used to adapt; and the socialization tactics they encountered.
The survey was mailed to 2,306 graduates approximately one year after graduation with 846 (38.6%) returned. Only those employed in a position appropriate for starting their career and employed in a business or for-profit organization were used in this study (n=378). Data were factor analyzed and then mean responses calculated for scales identified. Correlational analysis and analyses of variance were used to probe for possible relationships between the scales.
Respondents generally reported positive transition experiences but with considerable variability. However, use of individual adaptation strategies and organizational socialization strategies were low. Important relationships were found between critical job attitudes, anticipation of the transition, organizational socialization strategies and individual adaptation strategies and important aspects of the transition. Implications for HRD programming, university curricula and individual career strategies are discussed.Ed. D.
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Tsangu, Lastman. "South African tourism graduates’ perceptions of decent work in the Western Cape tourism industry." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2670.
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Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.The 2011 National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) adopted the concept of sustainable development towards decent work as a strategic objective of priority in the South African tourism industry (South African National Department of Tourism (SA.NDT), 2011a). The objective operates to address unfavourable aspects associated with work in tourism, and is relevant to tourism graduates as their susceptibility to decent work deficits contributes to a shortage of professionals with industry-related skills in the tourism industry. Over four years have passed since the SA.NDT declared priority interest on the decent work objective in 2011. Yet no noticeable progress has yet been made. This has raised a need to expand the knowledge base on decent work in tourism so as to retain skilled tourism professionals and sustainably develop the industry, as it is a priority sector for the country’s sustainable growth. The focus of this study was to establish tourism graduates’ perceptions (and experiences) of decent work in the tourism industry, as they are susceptible to decent work deficits and are abandoning the labour sector for which they created expectations and were highly trained. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, a qualitative research approach was adopted using a structured interview guide to collect primary data. The target population was limited to the 135 tourism graduates of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s BTech in Tourism Management programme, who completed their studies between the years 2010 and 2014. Stratified sampling and snowball sampling techniques were used to obtain a representative sample of 40 tourism graduates. Primary data were analysed using Leximancer software. The key findings of the study reveal the majority of the respondents surveyed to be mainly single females which reflect the population of the local tourism industry, of an average age of 27 years, and earning an average monthly salary of R7 007.35. In relation to historical race categories, Africans were the most noticeable compared to other races. The working career of the majority of these tourism graduates was on average four to five years before exiting the industry to pursue a different career. This was attributed to a predominance of precarious tourism work conditions and inaccessibility of decent work as tourism qualifications are apparently not valued in the tourism labour market. The findings underlined that work in tourism covers present financial needs and does not protect employees against possible future unemployment, illness, or old age. Tourism role players should collaborate to establish decent work focus areas as a step towards addressing unfavourable work conditions in the tourism industry. This should mitigate shortages of skilled tourism human resources. The study suggested eight decent work focus areas for addressing poor working conditions and sustainable development towards decent work in the South African tourism industry.
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Absuelo, Ruby. "Employability of Philippine college and university graduates in the United States." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/868.
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Limited economic opportunity for many Filipinos has created substantial emigration of the country’s educated work force. The economic opportunities in the United States have attracted Philippine immigrants seeking employment opportunities. Thus, the U.S. now has a substantial foreign-born Filipino population. Although the majority of Philippine immigrants to the U.S. possess bachelor’s degrees or advanced degrees (Allard & Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011; Camarota, 2012; Commission on Filipinos Overseas, 2012), many are underemployed or work in fields relatively unrelated to their education and experience.
This thesis examines Philippine college and university graduates’ social networks, educational attainment, degree field, English language proficiency, immigration status, age, and gender, factors which influence and determine Philippine graduates’ employability in the U.S. labour market. The Triangulation Mixed Methods Design also known as the Concurrent Triangulation Design was employed to effectively measure the complex phenomenon of Philippine graduates’ employability by integrating quantitative and qualitative data sets. The null hypotheses for this thesis were rejected exclusive of age and gender differences. Data revealed employability was enhanced when Philippine graduates networked with Weak Ties during initial employment and continued to be advantageous for being adequately employed (i.e. resulted in lower underemployment). However, lower employability and underemployment negatively affected graduates with a bachelor’s degree (particularly a business-related degree), those who were less proficient in English, and those who were Green Card holders. The factors that were influential in the employability of Philippine graduates coincided with the labour market demands of the American employers sampled in this study. The thesis found that the current status of Philippine graduates has improved substantially with a higher percentage of the respondents obtaining jobs commensurate with their educational qualifications as opposed to their initial employment.
Philippine graduates with medical technology degrees were particularly successful at obtaining jobs commensurate with their educational qualifications despite relatively few holding advanced degree, but on average this group had resided in the U.S. the longest. Graduates with business-related degrees continued to lag behind those in other degree fields and experienced lower employability and higher underemployment. Despite their initial employment disadvantage, these degree holders were less likely to pursue continuing education or receive additional U.S. school/educational credits. The findings of this thesis provide insight into the employability of Philippine graduates. Because of the sampling restrictions, the findings cannot be extrapolated beyond the scope of this research. These results should only be treated as indicative within the context of this research. However, they provide useful insights for policy-makers, stakeholders and academics in the Philippines.
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Payne, Lynn W. "Black business students' post-baccalaureate employment expectations : what are they and from where do they originate? /." Full-text version available from OU Domain via ProQuest Digital Dissertations, 1998.
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Mallory, Kristin L. "Employment success of community and technical college program graduates as an indicator of economic development in West Virginia." Huntington, WV : [Marshall University Libraries], 2006. http://www.marshall.edu/etd/descript.asp?ref=642.
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Earnshaw, A. P. Russell. "The experience of job insecurity for women university graduates in temporary and contract jobs in Vancouver." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/26808.
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Field research was used to document the psychological and contextual experience of job insecurity for 15 graduate women in jobs with limited tenure and protection. Single, hour-long, intensive focused interviews were used, employing a projective technique. Transcripts of taped interviews were analyzed for factors associated with positive and negative emotional shifts. Factors were categorized and grouped into domains, which included: the nature of the subjects' job insecurity; effects on work performance, work relations, emotional and physical health, finances, leisure, and, personal and family life.
The experience was shown to fit a transition model of loss and adaption to change. Major stressors were uncertainty, financial fears, pressure to perform, loss of trust, job search and career fears. Typical cognitions included: self doubt; feeling unappreciated, disillusioned, powerless and isolated. Cynicism and feeling compromised were less common reactions. Work relations, and work performance were generally adversely affected as were leisure activities and family life. Financial retrenchment was common. All subjects reported stress and anxiety; some reported depressive symptoms.
Thirteen coping strategies were identified. Cognitive coping was prominent, in particular, denial-like processes used to maintain optimism. "Good coping" and "poor coping" profiles were developed from the data.Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate
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Mkosana, Nkululeko Cautious. "Education: the transitional challenges of graduation to employment." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12198.
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Graduate unemployment, more specifically the continued inability of young people to make a successful transition from institutions of higher learning to labour markets, remains a key concern and one of the most pressing socio-economic issues facing South Africa. Of similar concern, has been the inordinate length of time it takes for graduates (particularly black graduates) to acquire employment. This research study was undertaken in an attempt to understand employment trends among black graduates: its specific aim is to determine, the length of time it takes for black graduates to acquire employment after graduation. As a secondary aim the study also seeks to determine the underlying causes of long-lasting unemployment. The study investigated the employment circumstances involving a sample of 40 graduate participants from Motherwell Township: it was discovered that it took from 1-3 years for the respondents to acquire employment. The study also found that relative to their male counterparts it took much longer for female graduate participants to acquire employment. It also emerged that the type of qualification possessed by the graduates was a determining factor in the likelihood of their gaining employment timeously.
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Rollins, Jessica R. "Needed communication skills during initial employment as perceived by graduates of the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2004. https://etd.wvu.edu/etd/controller.jsp?moduleName=documentdata&jsp%5FetdId=3682.
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Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2004.Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 53 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-39).
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Du, Shengchen. "Social capital, institutional constraints, and labor market outcomes :evidence from university graduates in China." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2019. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/653.
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The effect of social capital on labor market outcomes is a key concern in sociological studies. Even though there are extensive studies on this topic, with the worldwide expansion of higher education, insufficient scholarly efforts have so far been devoted to understanding access to social capital in the educational setting and labor market impact of social capital for well-educated individuals. Moreover, studies on social capital and migration tend to focus on the role played by social capital on migration decisions and outcomes, contingency impact of social capital on migrants' labor market outcomes are not well understood. To fill the knowledge gap, this research is to examine undergraduates' social capital accumulation and mobilization on campus, and the associated outcomes for their job seeking, with the particular focus on 1) the impact of macro institutions on migrant students' social capital accumulation and mobilization; 2) contingency impact of social capital on labor market outcomes. Combining primary data from in-depth interviews in Tianjin and secondary data collected in Nanjing, China, I examine the different processes of social capital accumulation and mobilization between local and migrant students on campus, and associated labor market outcomes between local and returned migrant students. Findings of this study suggest that university provides an important context for undergraduates to establish social ties and accumulate social capital. By attending higher education institutions, especially elite ones, students gain opportunities to build exclusive social connections on campus. However, opportunities to accumulate social capital on campus are highly structured between local and migrant students because of the household registration system. Moreover, data from in-depth interviews have demonstrated that migrant students suffer disadvantaged capacities to mobilize social capital compared to their local counterparts. The household registration system deprives migrant populations of access to some local employment opportunities, such as government and government-affiliated organizations, migrant students suffer from weaker job information and influence when mobilizing their social capital. Further, by analyzing survey data from Nanjing, it has verified the institutional contingency impact of social capital upon the household registration system between local and returned migrant students. Both total and university-based social capital increases local students' chance to get a desirable job but does not do so for returned migrant students. The central argument of the study is that institutional constraints, such as the household registration system, could lead to different capacities for the accessibility and mobilization of social capital among local students, migrant students, and returned migrant students, finally leading to differential labor market outcomes in Chinese cities.
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Beretu, Tendency. "The employability of human resources management graduates from a selected University of Technology in the Western Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2708.
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Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.Universities have been producing graduates at a fairly fast rate, yet the cry for technical expertise and educated graduates. Thousands of university graduates are not employed, or they end up in industries and places that have nothing to do with their education and or qualifications. Too often the unemployed graduates they owe money loaned for studies which they are not able to repay because they are essentially unemployable, the may be because of a stagnated economic growth thereby a general high level of unemployment. The levels of entrepreneurial activities have remained low and there are no expectations of a sudden turn around for the economy. The researcher looks at one aspect of the graduate studies, specifically human resources management qualifications offered by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the Western Cape South Africa from the period 2014 to 2017. The research was largely descriptive and partially exploratory which resulted in the use of an assorted method approach (qualitative and quantitative). The research focuses mainly on the activities of those employed as Human Resource practitioners and the expectations at their work stations. Together with this the respondents gave extra detail on what is expected of them together with duties frequently performed. Based on this, the data was captured and analysed for similarities of expectations from more than 50 organisations. The findings indicate that there is a serious disjuncture between what is taught in the class and what the industry practices and expects. Recommendations of the ideal course structure are added to the findings to enable institutions of higher learning to adjust their curricula in line with industry needs.
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Mashigo, Anneline Carol Lindiwe. "Factors influencing work readiness of graduates : an exploratory study." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95884.
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Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The world of work is increasingly changing, and to keep up with the changes, organisations are recruiting recent graduates with the aim of facilitating growth and continual improvement. The challenge is that these graduates do not necessarily possess the kind of competencies required to survive in the work environment. There are many challenges in the work environment that can affect the performance of graduates, and this requires certain competencies which graduates rarely possess. On the basis of the literature overview it is proposed that EI, SOC and PsyCap could contribute to strengthening graduates’ personal resources and contribute to their work readiness and ultimately their performance in the work environment. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between emotional intelligence (EI), psychological capital (PsyCap), sense of coherence (SOC) and the work readiness (WR) of graduates. The main argument of this study was that the personal resources of EI, SOC and PsyCap may make meaningful contributions to the work readiness of graduates and subsequently their performance in the work environment. The existence of relationships between these variables was statistically investigated and the necessary conclusions were drawn. A sample of 183 participants was drawn from two universities in Africa. Participants completed existing reliable and valid instruments measuring EI, SOC and PsyCap. WR was measured using the recently developed WRS. Correlational analysis was undertaken to determine the relationships between EI, SOC, PsyCap and WR. Multiple regression analysis was undertaken to determine whether the independent variables (EI, SOC and PsyCap) contribute to WR. Results revealed significant positive relationships between several subscales of EI, PsyCap and the subscales of WR, more specifically with organisational acumen and work competence. Very low correlations and insignificant correlations were found between SOC and the subscales of WR. The multiple regression analysis revealed comprehensibility as the best predictor for personal work characteristics; emotional reasoning, emotional expression and optimism as best predictors for organisational acumen; efficacy and emotional self management as best predictors for work competence and efficacy as the best predictor for social intelligence. The conclusion that was drawn from this study was that EI and PsyCap contribute to WR, more specifically to organisational acumen and work competence.
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Mutirwara, Miriam. "Graduateness and employability: a case of one polytechnic in Zimbabwe." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6125.
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The study explored the domains of graduateness and employability at one polytechnic in Zimbabwe. The focus was on how instructional delivery strategies and assessment tools could embed domains of graduateness and employer expectations. A phenomenological research approach was used in conducting the study. This qualitative research paradigm allowed the research to take place in a natural setting which enabled a holistic picture and use of an inductive mode of inquiry through the researcher’s immersion in the research setting. Human capital, teaching methods and flexible training models, among others, emerged as major strengths in training. However, these key strengths were marred by unprofessional practices and limited resources. In assessment, proficiency schedules, trade testing and use of external assessors emerged as key strengths. Pertaining to the curriculum, it emerged that on paper, curriculum specifications and design for implementation appeared relevant to the production of a graduate exhibiting attributes of graduateness. It however emerged that there was need to revisit the hidden curriculum, as training was dependent on the availability of resources. The study proposes a framework for promoting graduateness and enhancing employability through creation of mutual partnerships to collectively develop a curriculum that is acceptable to institutions and industry. Moreover, graduateness domains should be enshrined in the curriculum. A need for strategic selection of teaching and assessment methods which promote critical thinking, interaction, decision making and retention of information was identified. Major recommendations are that institutions should align themselves with market demands and technological changes to ensure employability. Institutions should also prepare graduates for transition to the world of work, by rendering adequate preparation through teaming up with industry and the use of appropriate teaching methodology.
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Hamel, John Carel. "The College-to-Work Transition Through Temporary Employment Services: A Case Study in an Information Technology Company." Diss., Virginia Tech, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30421.
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Transition from the college classroom to the workplace requires certain job knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs). How and where the New Employee acquires these KSAs is mired in the transition between education and the world-of-work.
This dissertation informs the college-to-work transition process through the experiences of college graduate liberal arts majors and of those responsible for integrating the new employees into the organization. Three new employees and two managers working on information technology products and services in a major corporation were interviewed. A grounded theory approach was used to discover patterns in the data. This method allowed the researcher to inform the complexity of the college-to-work transition process.
The researcher discovered a naturally evolving process dominated by informal learning that new employees used to learn about the culture and the specific job skills need in the corporation. In many ways, the participants had evolved a process similar to the apprenticeship system of the middle ages.Ed. D.
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Agia, Aziza Eugenie. "The role of biotechnology training partnerships in expanding local employment opportunities for community college graduates in California's biotechnology industry." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59725.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 383-390).
This study addresses a gap in the policy and planning literature regarding the extent to which public workforce intermediaries in a knowledge-intensive industry expand employment opportunities for a nontraditional, i.e., less-educated or displaced workforce. Specifically, it investigated the recruitment and hiring practices for entry-level biomanufacturing and biological technicians among a sample of life sciences companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater San Diego Area in order to determine whether training partnerships composed of community colleges, employers and public agencies shape labor supply and demand in favor of community college graduates. The study also examined the mechanisms through which such intermediaries influence recruitment and hiring practices, focusing on strategies to encourage employers' active engagement in the partnership and to facilitate extensive collaboration among key partners. To measure impact on industry practices, I gathered from a treatment and comparison group of firms the percentage of technicians in the current entry-level workforce that holds a community college degree or certificate. To determine the factors associated with successful (or unsuccessful) program intervention in the sample firms' recruitment and hiring practices, I conducted qualitative interviews of company staff regarding the education and training needs of the company with respect to its technician-level workforce, as well as the company's perceptions of its community college hires vis-A-vis their bachelor-degreed counterparts. The evidence shows that, among companies employing a bio-manufacturing workforce, the programs have succeeded in training future technicians to meet the needs of area employers (a supply-side goal); and in negotiating skills-based, as opposed to credential-based hiring, while legitimating the community college population as a viable candidate pool (both demand-side goals). The evidence is mixed with respect to the programs' ability to increase graduates' access to entry-level employment in the research laboratory setting. Finally, the evidence shows that partnership efforts produce industry-relevant curriculum, training, and services; facilitate the learning necessary to generate program innovation; and establish relationships of trust with company staff. Together, such outcomes positively shape the opportunity structure facing community college job seekers.
by Aziza Eugenie Agia.
Ph.D.
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Kwan, Chi Kit. "Individualization and school-to-work transition : a study of university graduates in Hong Kong." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2012. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_ra/1426.
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Due-Detroyer, Patricia A. "Wisconsin industrial employers' perceptions of the need for graduates of specific industrial technology programs in the Wisconsin Technical College Districts." Menomonie, WI : University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2005. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2005/2005due-detroyerp.pdf.
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Nsenduluka, Mukupa. "Graduate job search activity in Zambia: a social capital analysis." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12917.
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There is much to be said about the use of social capital in the job search patterns of graduates, however, little is researched on the use of social capital as a job search strategy. Despite the years of research that acknowledges the critical role social capital plays in determining job search outcomes, little to no research has been done to specifically understand the different ways in which graduates utilize their social capital (family, friends and acquaintances) to look for work. Human capital theory posits that education is the greatest determinant of employment in a labour market system that that awards educational credentials with occupational attainment. However, the reality is that a large number of Zambian graduates are jobless despite being educated. This study, therefore seeks to analyse the high levels of graduate unemployment from lternative theories of social capital and the job search. Knowing the different ways social capital expresses itself in graduate job search patterns provides possible solutions and a different perspective to addressing the high levels of graduate unemployment in Zambia. This study adopted a qualitative case study research design and made use of the snow ball sampling approach. Fifteen semistructured interviews were conducted and findings and emerging themes analysed in response to the central question, “how does social capital express itself in graduate job search patterns in Lusaka, Zambia?”. Through extensive thematic analyses, the researcher finds that there are eight ways in which graduates utilize their social capital to look for work and overcome challenges of the job search. This demonstrates that social capital can be a useful and beneficial job search strategy to adopt in a labour market system where educational credentials alone do not guarantee graduates successful job search outcomes.
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Letendre, Diane. "Étude sur le phénomene de l'intégration du diplôme universitaire à son premier emploi /." Thèse, Chicoutimi : Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1992. http://theses.uqac.ca.
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Lowe, Elizabeth Allyn 1954. "The Relationship of Collegiate Television News Curricula With the Employment Marketability of Television News Graduates." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1989. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc332441/.
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This study examined the relationship the television news sequence at four-year colleges and universities has with the employment marketability of those students who major in television news. Both vocational and academic approaches were examined. Three factors were taken into consideration: if the completion of any television news curriculum aids in the television news graduate's employment marketability, if the television news curriculum has merit when weighed against work experience without completion of such a discipline, and if another academic sequence might better prepare the aspiring television journalist.
The study is significant in that the field of television news has been glutted in recent years by an influx of graduates who believe that the work is glamorous and exciting. Many graduates lack the basic verbal and mechanical skills to compete in the job marketplace.
The first two chapters discuss the research problem and the factors comprising it. Details of the research design follow, dividing the study into an assessment of the problem and the analysis of the results of a questionnaire that was mailed to 213 television news anchors selected through a stratified random process. A background chapter on various television news curricula is included, with numerous books and periodicals cited. Educational profiles of selected network news anchors are also featured.
Almost 60 percent of the local news anchors contacted completed and returned the questionnaires. The nominal data is discussed and presented in tabular form; the data is also analyzed through a series of cross-tabulations using specific demographical information and responses.
Findings of the survey indicate that the television news sequence does not appreciably aid the graduate in securing employment, that practical experience outweighs the merits of completing such a sequence, and that the aspiring television journalist might benefit more from a concentration in the liberal arts.
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Kan, Mee-lin Hayley, and 簡美蓮. "Local talent and international standards: theemergence of global graduate employment in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2009. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B42664676.
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Kleeman, Amy Parker. "Employer perceptions an exploratory study of employability skills expected of new graduates in the hospitality industry." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2011. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/4779.
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Graduate employability skills have become one of the most important topics on the higher education agenda in the first decade of the 21st century. In the United States, and throughout the world, global competition, growth of a knowledge-based economy, technological advances, and the multigenerational workforce have combined to substantially alter the contemporary workplace (Gedye & Chalkey, 2006). Whether by choice or circumstance, the expectation of a secure lifelong position with one employer and the opportunity for linear career progression are no longer typical nor practical in the contemporary workplace (Harvey, Locke, & Morey, 2002). Employability skills are those skills, attributes, and behaviors, e.g., communication skills, problem-solving, organization, and planning, that bridge most disciplines, industries, and employing organizations. They have the greatest impact on the sustained, productive, successful employment of graduates (Cranmer, 2006; Gedye, Fender, & Chalkey, 2004). The purpose of this study was to (a) identify the employability skills employers perceive to be important for entry-level management/management-in-training positions in the hospitality industry, (b) to establish employability skills competency levels employers expect for these positions, and (c) to garner employer perceptions of Rosen College of Hospitality Management (RCHM) interns' and new graduates' employability skills competence for entry-level management/management-in-training positions in the hospitality industry. The findings add to the body of literature and provide insight into the need for further employability skills development of students prior to graduation and entrance into the workforce. Additionally, the study provides information and insight for faculty, career services, and experiential learning professionals regarding the skills students currently possess, the need for further skills development, and those skills employers deem most important.ID: 030646188; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2011.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-179).
Ed.D.
Doctorate
Educational and Human Sciences
Education
Educational Leadership
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Archer, Christie, and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Education. "University students' perceptions of their readiness to enter the workforce upon graduation." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 2004, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/212.
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The purpose of this study was to explore and gain a greater understanding of senior university students' perceptions of their readiness to enter the work force following program completion, as well as their perceptions of the availability and helpfulness of career-related resources and services. Due to the exploratory nature of this research, no a priori hypothese were generated. A sample of 324 undergraduate students attending the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada was surveyed using the Comprehensive Career Needs Survey Post-Secondary Form, a revision of the Comprehensive Career Needs Survey developed by Magnusson and Bernes (2001). The resulting data analysis provided an overview of student perceptions of readiness to enter the work force, their thoughts about the availability and usefulness of career-related services and resources, as well as their actual use of those services and resources. This research supports previous findings regarding the benefit of experiential learning as part of the university experience and contributes information regarding the resources that students feel would be most helpful as they make the transition from school to work.xi, 135 leaves ; 29 cm.
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Mhinga, Rirhandzu Sharon. "Critical thinking skills and the workplace : a case study of newly graduated employment seekers." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80250.
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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis handel oor die volgende: Hoofstuk 1 dek die agtergrond, probleemstelling en ‘n kort oorsig oor die vaardigheidsgapings wat opgemerk kan word binne die konteks van die kennis-ekonomie. Hoofstuk 2 handel oor kernkonsepte, naamlik “kritiese denkvaardighede”, die kenniskonomie en wersvaardighede. Hoofstuk 3 sit ‘n gevallestudie uiteen. Dit beskryf die metode wat gekies is, die monster asook die uitvoering van die projek. Hoofstuk 4 bied ‘n ontleding aan van die data. Die laaste hoofstuk bespreek die resultate en hulle implikasies.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis covers the following chapters Chapter 1: Background and Research Objectives This chapter focuses on the background, the problem and its setting and also includes the overview of the knowledge economy and the existing gap in skills. Chapter 2: Critical thinking and Employability Skills The focus is on an introduction and definitions of key concepts, namely critical thinking skills, the knowledge economy, and employability skills. Chapter 3: The Case Study This chapter offers the chosen research method and design, as well as the reasons for selecting this design, and will describe the methods. The discussion will include the research approach, sampling and data management. Chapter 4: Presentation and Discussion of the Findings The discussion includes data interpretation, specific techniques employed and reasons for such strategies. Chapter 5: Aspects of the Skills Gap This is the final chapter and it discusses the findings, makes recommendations, and concludes the study.
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McGrew, Charles E. "EDUCATION POLICIES AND MIGRATION REALITIES: UTILIZING A STATE LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF MIGRATION CHOICES FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES FROM APPALACHIAN KENTUCKY." UKnowledge, 2013. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/epe_etds/5.
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Census data indicates people with higher levels of education are leaving Appalachian Kentucky as they do in other rural areas. Aside from anecdotal information and primarily qualitative community studies, there is little quantitative evidence of the factors which may influence these migration decisions. State policies and regional efforts to increase educational attainment of people in the region have focused on producing more college degrees however may be contributing to the out-migration of those with higher levels of education. The study incorporates community level data with demographic, academic, and employment data from a cohort of 2005-06 college graduates from Appalachian Kentucky. The study includes an analysis of migration rates for a variety of different types of graduates and a set of three complimentary logistic regression models developed to understand the impact of individual demographic and academic factors, factors about the communities where these graduates came from, and the factors related to the communities where they went after completing their degrees and credentials to predict likelihood of migrating. This study builds upon previous efforts by providing extensive, externally validated data about a large population of individuals. It leverages sociological, demographic, and neoclassical microeconomic research methods and leverages data from Kentucky's statewide longitudinal data system to serve as an illustration for how these systems can be used for complex statistical analyses.
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Schalk, Jaclyn. "The Academic and Co-Curricular Factors That Predict Full-Time Job Placement and Starting Salary Upon Graduation for College of Business Students." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1371221438.
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Engelbrecht, Mardine. "The relevance of the National Certificate Vocational at Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges for the South African tourism industry." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2580.
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Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.The study was planned to investigate the relevance of the National Certificate Vocational tourism programme for the South African tourism industry in terms of the employability and skills required by tourism students to work in the tourism industry, once they graduated. The main objective of this study was to identify the challenges facing the National Certificate Vocational tourism programme, with sub-objectives focussing on the level of graduates’ employability, articulation from the National Certificate Vocational programme to higher education, as well as on the skills and abilities needed by National Certificate Vocational lecturers to teach in their specific field. The research was conducted in the form of an empirical survey to gather information using research questionnaires. A mixed methods approach, using both a quantitative and qualitative methodology, was employed to gather relevant data for the study. Qualitative questionnaires were distributed to a target population comprising conveniently selected National Certificate Vocational Tourism graduates (a total sample of 100), and National Certificate Vocational lecturers (a sample of 50 suitably qualified persons), at four Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges in the Western Cape. Personal interviews were conducted with ten conveniently selected tourism industry employers and role-players. Ten specifically identified representatives of tourism and government education departments and other government organisations were also part of the target population. The first part of the study looked at the history of Vocational Education and how it is practised in other countries. The history of the National Certificate Vocational programmes within South Africa is explained, as well as the challenges facing the National Certificate Vocational tourism qualification and its relevance to the tourism industry in South Africa. Results from the research suggested that National Certificate Vocational tourism students are only employable in small to medium micro enterprises (SMMEs) once they graduate. It was concluded that graduates would need more experience and practical knowledge to be employable in the wider tourism labour market. The results confirm that the updated National Certificate Vocational tourism curriculum is critically important to make the qualification more relevant to the South African tourism industry.
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Hess, Jonathan Lucas. "Professional success for music majors : understanding the experiences of those who have achieved." Scholarly Commons, 2011. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/780.
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Van, Niekerk Roelf. "Economic responsiveness in organisational psychology curricula." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003952.
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This study focused on a topic at the intersection of two contexts, namely curriculum responsiveness and industrial/organisational psychology (IOP). The rationale for this study is based on two considerations. Firstly, a review of the IOP curricula offered at ten prominent South African universities revealed little overlap. This suggests that academic departments are not guided by shared principles when they implement decisions about the content or sequencing of curriculum content. Secondly, the Department of Education urges academics to design curricula that are relevant and responsive to contemporary conditions. These two considerations motivated the investigation of the following research question: What key performance areas (KPAs) do employers specify when they advertise positions suitable for IOP graduates? The investigation had two aims, namely (a) to systematically analyse the KPAs specified in job advertisements and (b) to compile KPA templates that may be used by IOP departments who wish to revise or transform their curricula. The research design of this study has five characteristics, namely that it is: (a) qualitative, (b) naturalistic, (c), descriptive, (d) applied, and (e) strategic. The study employed a purposive sampling strategy that involved the collection of documentary data (job advertisements aimed at recruiting IOP graduates) over a 52-week period (N=1115). The data was content analysed by means of a six-step documentary analysis method. Specific strategies were employed to enhance the validity of the findings. These strategies focused on credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Similarly, the ethical standing of the investigation was promoted by addressing four considerations, namely autonomy and respect for dignity, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. The data analysis procedure produced comprehensive and detailed qualitative descriptions of (a) 21 occupational categories, (b) 4070 KPA themes and (c) 84 KPA clusters. In addition, the number of occupational categories, KPA themes and KPA clusters were recorded and interpreted. In addition, the data analysis procedure produced comprehensive KPA templates that IOP departments may find useful. The templates reflect the KPAs specified by advertisements aimed at recruiting IOP graduates for a range of occupational categories and were designed to be used as benchmarks against which the economic responsiveness of curricula can be compared.
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Ntikinca, Kanyiso Lungani. "The transition of Rhodes University graduates into the South African labour market : a case study of the 2010 cohort." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018198.
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Recent studies have shown that graduates from historically White universities (HWUs) experience better labour market outcomes than graduates from historically Black universities (HBUs). This is a result of the legacy of apartheid which promoted racial inequality in all spheres of South African society, more especially in higher education and the labour market. Post-1994, government dedicated large amounts for the restructuring of the higher education sector of South Africa in order to level out the playing field. However, graduates from HWUs still experience better labour market success than graduates from HBUs. That said, there is limited information about the labour market outcomes and experiences of graduates from a former White university (especially graduates from Rhodes University). Therefore, the central aim of this dissertation is to show that graduates from a historically White university (Rhodes University) experience varying and unequal outcomes in the South African labour market on account of (among other factors) their chosen fields of study, race and sex. This study is informed by the heterodox labour market approach, which is partly inspired by the critical realist account of the labour market. As a result, this theoretical framework allowed the researcher to use the Labour Market Segmentation (LMS) theory as a tool to inform this analysis. The study has adopted a quantitative survey design and has incorporated some of the key methodological lessons learned from the collection of international graduate tracer studies. The findings from this study indicated that ‘field of study’ is a strong determiner of the outcomes of Rhodes graduates in the labour market. This was visible in the persistence of a skills bias towards commerce and science graduates. Evidently, even when we controlled for race and sex, graduates from the commerce and science faculties experience better labour market outcomes than humanities graduates. This is a result of a skills biased South African economy, which has a higher demand for certain skills over others. However, the findings from this study also show evidence of pre-labour market discrimination and inequality (based on race and sex) in the supply-side institutions such as the family, schooling and university. The findings also show continuities and discontinuities of labour market discrimination (based on race and sex) in the outcomes of Rhodes graduates in the South African labour market. More importantly, this dissertation indicates that Rhodes graduates experience varying outcomes in the labour market as a result of (among other factors) their chosen fields of study, race and sex.
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Wood, Leigh Norma. "Graduate voices the nexus between learning and work /." Phd thesis, Australia : Macquarie University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/47704.
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"2006"Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Australian Centre for Educational Studies, Institute of Higher Education Research and Development, 2007.
Bibliography: p. 167-173.
Introduction -- Experience and expression -- Becoming a professional -- Study design -- Graduates' experiences: a narrative -- Reflections on communication -- Examples of texts -- Reflections on learning and teaching -- Reflections and implications.
The aim of this study is to inform curriculum change in the mathematical sciences at university level. This study examines the transition to professional work after gaining a degree in the mathematical sciences. Communication is used as the basis for the analysis of the transition because of the importance of language choices in work situations. These experiences form part of the capabilities that become part of a person's potential to work as a professional. I found a subtle form of power and, of the opposite, lack of power due to communication skills. It is not as obvious as in, say, politics but it is just as critical to graduates and to the mathematical sciences. -- There were 18 participants in the study who were graduates within five years of graduation with majors in the mathematical sciences. In-depth interviews were analysed using phenomenography and examples of text from the workplace were analysed using discourse analysis. Descriptions of the process of gaining employment and the use of mathematical discourse have been reported in the thesis using narrative style with extensive quotes from the participants. -- The research shows that graduates had three qualitatively different conceptions of mathematical discourse when communicating with a non-mathematical audience: jargon, concepts/thinking and strength. All participants modified their use of technical terms when communicating with non-mathematicians. Those who held the jargon conception tried to simplify the language in order to explain the mathematics to their audience. Those who held the concepts/thinking conception believed that the way of thinking or the ideas were too difficult to communicate and instead their intention with mathematical discourse was to inspire or sell their ability to work with the mathematics. The strength conception considers the ethical responsibility to communicate the consequences of mathematical decisions. Not one of the participants believed that they had been taught communication skills as part of their degree. -- Participants gained a 'mathematical identity' from their studies and acquiring a degree gave them confidence and a range of problem-solving skills. Recommendations are made about changes in university curriculum to ensure that graduates are empowered to make a high-quality transition to the workplace and be in a position to use their mathematical skills. Mathematical skills are necessary but not sufficient for a successful transition to the workplace. Without the ability to communicate, graduates are unable to release the strength of their knowledge.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
xi, 195 p. ill
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Ngetich, Willy Kiprotich. "An investigation of industry expectations on industrial engineering graduates: a case study of development programmes in South African universities." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1233.
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Submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree
MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE
in
Quality
Faculty of Engineering
CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2012Post apartheid South Africa experienced major economic turbulence with poverty, unemployment and skills shortage, with most manufacturing and other key economic sectors affected by poor productivity and a subsequent downsizing of their labour work force. At the same time, many economic opportunities arose, including the full impact of globalisation, the emergence of China and Africa as economic partners and becoming a full member of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economic development group by the year 2010. The government and business communities at large realised the necessity for skills augmentation in order to expedite economic development and alleviate the scarcity of employment opportunities and growth across the major economic sectors. The backdrop of the economic upheaval of 2008 and 2009 placed manufacturing firms under pressure to reconsider their current operational strategies by streamlining their organisations and adopting aggressive lean and cost saving approaches in order to remain competitive. There is a perceived lack of alignment between industry and institutions alike, sometimes resulting in a perception that graduating industrial engineers do not entirely match industry expectations. Thus, it is imperative to explore the articulation and relationship between those industries that rely on the skills of industrial engineering technologists and the graduate industrial engineers with emphasis on the skills expectations as stressed by the national priorities and the academic capacity to meet these skills expectation in today’s competitive professional arena. This perceived lack of alignment between end user requirements and the service provided falls within the ambit of the field of quality management. This study focuses on two main sample groups within two areas of interest: • The industrial engineering student community and their respective academic environments; and • the relevant industrial engineering industry and its working environment. A self-administered questionnaire coupled with a number of interviews is employed in order to gather the required data. Grouped samples, involve the relevant industry employers, students and academic institutions. The research explores the pertinent roles and responsibilities expected of industrial engineers and industrial engineering technologists on entry into the working environment, as compared to the current level of training offered by various institutional bodies as expressed by the South African qualifications authority (SAQA) and the national qualifications framework (NQF). The validation of the analysis and outcomes of the study culminates through the exploration of the following: • The influence of skills levels on productivity within the relevant industrial engineering industries. • The demand and supply of industrial engineering skills. • Skilling industrial engineering graduates for their required roles and responsibilities. • Governing bodies responsible for the curriculation of industrial engineering programmes, offered by institutions of higher learning. The study aims to proffer valuable knowledge by identifying better opportunities for employment in the industrial engineering field, the addition of value towards better industrial engineering schooling and output quality of students emerging from institutions, and lastly superseding earlier misconceived perceptions of industrial engineering.
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Mandyoli, Bulelwa Beauty. "The role of social entrepreneurship in graduate employability in Cape Town, South Africa." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2643.
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Thesis (MTech (Business Administration (Entrepreneurship)))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.Graduates face challenges to secure relevant employment; even worse, obtaining a qualification does not guarantee employment or employability. The labour market no longer only searches for a qualification but also for a set of skills. Graduates are required to improve upon proficiencies that would qualify for positive performance and would benefit the employer to use for business purposes. In addition, scarcities of expertise, besides working environment knowledge, indicate that businesses are unwilling to employ graduates, hiring more experienced people as an option. This research has studied the developing concept of social entrepreneurship; but principally examined the context in which social entrepreneurship can be used to improve graduate employability. A quantitative method was used with the help of a structured questionnaire in order to achieve a high level of reliability in relation to data analysis. The subjects for this research comprised 187 social entrepreneurs who are formally registered as non-profit organisations within Cape Town, and are registered on the Western Cape Charity South Africa database. The data collected for this study were analysed and illustrated using tables, bars and pie charts. It is hoped that this study will not merely add to the knowledge of social business enterprise, but also disclose the likely roles that social entrepreneurs can play to improve graduate employability.
National Research Foundation(NRF)
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Kaliyati, William Qinisela. "Staying or leaving New Zealand after you graduate? : reflecting on brain drain and brain circulation issues facing graduates : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce and Management at Lincoln University /." Lincoln University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10182/1535.
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Brain drain and brain circulation are forms of skilled labour migration which have a significant impact on New Zealand’s economic growth. Based on their importance, it is suggested that economies rethink how they compete for skilled labour in an international labour market. This research study reviews economic and non-economic factors that influence an individual’s decisions to stay or leave New Zealand. Data is collected from a survey sample of Lincoln University final year undergraduate and postgraduate students, who represent New Zealand’s future skilled labour. The research study employs a data reduction technique called factor analysis to collate large sets of variables into small sets for econometric analysis. The key econometric tool, logit analysis, provides probabilities of graduates leaving New Zealand and marginal effects of changes in key economic and non-economic variables. These key findings, providing new knowledge, are used to engage in a policy discussion in the last chapter. The research study importantly maintains focus on three key stakeholders, the government, the business community and the individual/student when addressing and analysing New Zealand’s brain drain and brain circulation issues.
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Adams, Samantha Pedro. "Examining graduate applicant intentions to apply to an organisation : the theory of planned behaviour in the South African context." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80375.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.The fiercely competitive nature of South Africa’s skilled labour market has necessitated a degree of awareness, from employers and researchers alike, of factors that potentially attract skilled graduates. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) the present study explored the formation of intentions towards job pursuit activities (i.e., submitting an application form) of the South African graduate. The proposed model of applicant intention that was tested in the present study is based on salient beliefs — an applicant’s attitude towards behaviour, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control — that determine the development and strength of intentions to apply for a job. The study was conducted in two phases using a mixed method approach. The first phase employed a qualitative design on a sample (N = 32) of students in order to elicit salient beliefs associated with applying to a chosen organisation. Next, we conducted interviews, administered open-ended questionnaires and conducted content analysis to identify applicants’ salient behavioural beliefs about applying. The second phase of the study employed a quantitative design to test the hypotheses that behavioural beliefs (attitudinal beliefs, normative beliefs and control beliefs) would influence intention to apply. We administered belief-based measures to a convenience sample (N = 854) of students from a tertiary institution in the Western Cape. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of the measurement and structural models found that the hypothesised models fit the data reasonably well and significant relationships between perceived behavioural control and intention to apply were confirmed. Latent variable correlation analysis showed that all three behavioural beliefs (attitude towards behaviour, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control) were significantly related to intention to apply, but only normative and control beliefs showed significant path coefficients when all the beliefs were considered jointly in the structural model. Following the confirmatory factor analysis, we further explored socio-demographic group differences in the levels of, and relationship between, behavioural beliefs and intention to apply to an organisation. The results showed that perceived behavioural control had a significant relationship with intention to apply. The study makes three important contributions to the literature. First, TPB can be a useful framework to explain graduate applicant’s intention to apply. Second, the significant role of perceived behavioural control and subjective norm in the formation of graduate applicant intentions was highlighted. Third, the diagnostic utility of the TPB framework for applicant intentions was established. Finally, the results suggest there might be group differences in behavioural beliefs and intention to apply – a finding that calls for more research on graduate applicant decision-making in the South African context.
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Cram, Daniel William. "The underemployment of B.C. college graduates." Thesis, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/6467.
Full textAbstract:
Underemployment is a much discussed but little researched topic. The thesis begins
with a broad discussion of the theory and methodology underlying the recent research on
underemployment. It then proceeds to a quantitative analysis of underemployment using data
from the 1995 follow-up of B.C. college leavers from vocational, technical and two-year
academic university transfer programs. The study finds that, overall, one third of B.C. college
leavers were employed in jobs that did not require the level of education that they had attained.
As expected, there were significant differences by field of study and subsequent occupation.
The rate of underemployment among students from academic programs was eight times the
rate of underemployment for students from vocational programs and twice that of students
from career/technical programs. Additionally, almost a third of all college leavers were
employed in Sales and Service occupations and roughly two-thirds of those were
underemployed. Labour market segmentation theory provides the most useful theoretical
explanation for these findings. The markedly uneven rates of underemployment experienced by
college leavers in the core and peripheral sectors support the labour market segmentation
perspective. In conclusion, underemployment is a useful, though limited construct. Such a
measure should only be used in conjunction with other measures of employment outcomes like
unemployment, salary and full/part-time employment status.
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Lin, Fangyu, and 林芳伃. "Credentials and Employment: The case of taiwanese college graduates." Thesis, 2013. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/31983811604353972874.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立臺北大學
社會學系
101
Based on the 2006 academic year survey data of Taiwan integrated postsecondary education database (TIPED), this paper examines whether credentials substantially benefit employment or not. Further, what kinds of credentials are more beneficial in getting a job and getting better work situation. Tow findings are worthy of notes: first, diplomas licenses and certificates benefit college graduates in finding full-time job; second licenses is most beneficial in getting better working conditions, but certificates have less, is not negative effect.