This research examines the TVET graduate employability level at a Malaysian higher learning institution. In keeping up with current trends of the industry, there is an increasing need of higher learning institutions to prepare graduates who are ready for the work force. The World Economic Forum (2020), in its effort to map trends of jobs, skill relevance and rates of change within the industry constantly discusses the skills needed from graduates before they enter the workforce. Adding the extra challenge from the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is becoming more paramount for higher learning institutions to produce graduates that are well-equipped with the relevant skills to meet with the demands of the industry. The TVET field, being a key player in producing human capital for the industry, is not exempted from the pressure of producing such graduates. Hence, this study attempts to investigate the Graduate Employability (GE) skills among TVET graduates and to assess how they perceive their GE levels. A quantitative research design was employed with the administration of an online survey. As part of a bigger data collection procedure, the survey was completed by 169 TVET students from one faculty at one Malaysian public university. The survey focused on five GE skills; namely communication skills, technology skills, adaptability skills, self-efficacy skills and leadership skills. The data was analyzed using SPSS, utilizing the descriptive statistics. The overall findings are first discussed, followed by the discussion of each skill, which help the study to identify skills that require further intervention needed by the students. Some of the salient findings suggest the students are least confident in their technology and adaptability skills, which confirms existing literature’s discussion on the need of reskilling and upskilling in the work force. The findings also suggest a further investigation in examining existing TVET curriculum, as to how the curriculum could support these TVET students better in their technology and adaptability skills.
Abd Majid, F., Sharil, W. N. E. H., & Kamaruzaman, M. F. (2023). TESL Graduates and
TVET English Language Teaching Readiness: The Curriculum Perspectives. Asian
Journal of University Education, 19(2), 270-281.
Aqli, R. F., Hasan, B., & Sucita, T. (2019). Internship program as a part of technical and
vocational education training (TVET). In 5th UPI International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ICTVET 2018) (pp. 471-474). Atlantis Press.
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.
Psychological review, 84(2), 191.
Chen, T. L., Shen, C. C., & Gosling, M. (2018). Does employability increase with internship
satisfaction? Enhanced employability and internship satisfaction in a hospitality
program. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education. 22. 88-99.
Hawati, A. H., & Tan, M. Y. (2023). Unlocking the Earning Potential of TVET Graduates.
Khazanah Research Institute.
Ismail, K., Nopiah, M., & Sattar, M. (2018). Challenges Faced by Vocational Teachers in Public Skills Training Institution: A Reality in Malaysia. Journal of Technical Education and Training, 10, 13-27. https://doi.org/10.30880/jtet.2018.10.02.002
Ismail, J. B., Chik, C. T., & Hemdi, M. A. (2021). TVET graduate employability: Mismatching
traits between supply and demand. In International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(13), 223-243.
Kamarudin, N. (2022). Enhancing quality TVET graduates through three integrated curriculum
models–the DPCCE experience. International Journal of Technical Vocational And
Engineering Technology, 3(1), 1-14.
Lee, S. (2020). Industry Engagement in TVET: Best Practices and Challenges. In Vocational
Education Journal, 15(1), 78-92.
Malaysian TVET Council. (2024). Dasar TVET Negara 2030. Sekretariat Majlis TVET
Negara.
Noor, M. A. M. (2023). Employability skills needed for TVET graduates in Malaysia: perspective of industry expert. Online Journal for TVET practitioners, 8(1), 52-59.
Omar, M. K., Ismail, K., Abdullah, A., Kadir, S. A., & Jusoh, R. (2021). Embedding Entrepreneurial Knowledge in Vocational College Curriculum: A Case Study of the Competency of TVET Instructors. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 29.
Pimentel, J. L., & Pimentel, J. L. (2019). Some biases in Likert scaling usage and its
correction. International Journal of Science: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 45(1), 183-191.
Schwab, K., & Malleret, T. (2020, March). The great reset. In World economic forum, Geneva (Vol. 22).
Schwarzer, R., & Jerusalem, M. (1995). Generalized self-efficacy scale. J. Weinman, S.
Wright, & M. Johnston, Measures in health psychology: A user’s portfolio. In Causal and control beliefs, 35(37), 82-003.
Thessin, R. A., Clayton, J. K., & Jamison, K. (2020). Profiles of the administrative internship:
The mentor/intern partnership in facilitating leadership experiences. Journal of
Research on Leadership Education. 15(1). 28-55.
Thomas, J. S. J., Jamaluddin, R., & Abdullah, A. (2023). The Use of Digital Learning: A
Predictive Model of Knowledge, Readiness and Attitude Factors Among Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) Teachers in Secondary Schools. In ANP Journal of Social Science and Humanities. 4(2). 32-40.
UNESCO. (2015). Unleashing the Potential: Transforming Technical and Vocational
Education and Training. UNESCO Publishing.
World Economic Forum. (2023, January 16). Davos 2023: What you need to know about the
future of work. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/futureofwork-jobs-skills/
Sharil, W. N. E. H., Majid, F. A., Yau, S. A., & Kamaruzaman, M. F. (2024). TVET Students’ Employability Skills: An Investigation on Graduate Employability Level at a Malaysian Higher Learning Institution. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(9), 574–586.
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
