Staff View: The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers

The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers

Purpose – This study examined the effectiveness of Finishing School programmes in enhancing the employability of graduates from institutions of higher learning. The perceptions of the graduates and employers towards the effectiveness of the programmes were analyzed. The effectiveness of Finishing S...

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Main Authors:	Ali, Jamal, Lim, Hock Eam, Ismail, Russayani, Abdul Rahim, Fauziah, Md Isa, Filzah, Ismail, Ismi Arif
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	Universiti Utara Malaysia Press 2014
Subjects:	LB2300 Higher Education
Online Access:	http://repo.uum.edu.my/27416/1/MJLI%2011%202014%20147%20170.pdf http://repo.uum.edu.my/27416/ http://mjli.uum.edu.my/index.php/previous-issues/133-malaysian-journal-of-learning-and-instruction-mjli-vol-11-2014
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spelling	my.uum.repo.274162020-09-03T00:29:37Z http://repo.uum.edu.my/27416/ The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers Ali, Jamal Lim, Hock Eam Ismail, Russayani Abdul Rahim, Fauziah Md Isa, Filzah Ismail, Ismi Arif LB2300 Higher Education Purpose – This study examined the effectiveness of Finishing School programmes in enhancing the employability of graduates from institutions of higher learning. The perceptions of the graduates and employers towards the effectiveness of the programmes were analyzed. The effectiveness of Finishing School programmes evaluated through a graduate marketability outcome study and the expectations of employers with regard to the type of soft skills of graduates most needed by industries were also examined.Methodology – Data for this study were obtained through a survey questionnaire administered to graduates and focus group interviews with selected employers. The primary data involved a large sample (n = 1092) of graduates from public universities and also 31 selected employers from various industries. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and a multinomial logit model. Due to the unavailability of a population frame, the data were collected using a convenient sampling design.Findings – Graduates had a positive perception of the effectiveness of Finishing School programmes. However, in terms of the marketability outcome, Finishing school programmes currently being offered were seen as ineffective. Interviews with offi cers at the management level from various companies showed that the local graduates were lacking in certain types of soft skills, particularly in English communication skills, compared with their counterparts who graduated from higher education institutions overseas. Employers listed three skills as critical for graduates to have, namely, problem solving skills, information management (exposure to general knowledge, current issues and ICT) and English communication.Significance –Most of the soft skills which employers have identifi ed as important in enhancing graduates’ employability have long been emphasized by the local higher learning institutions through their Finishing School programmes. Hence, it was concluded that the existing Finishing School programmes are indeed moving in the right direction in achieving its desired objectives. However, there is still room for improvement. This is especially so in relation to its implementation as the empirical evidence seems to suggest that current Finishing School programmes are not effective in terms of graduate marketability outcome. Universiti Utara Malaysia Press 2014 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://repo.uum.edu.my/27416/1/MJLI%2011%202014%20147%20170.pdf Ali, Jamal and Lim, Hock Eam and Ismail, Russayani and Abdul Rahim, Fauziah and Md Isa, Filzah and Ismail, Ismi Arif (2014) The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction (MJLI), 11. pp. 147-170. ISSN 1675-8110 http://mjli.uum.edu.my/index.php/previous-issues/133-malaysian-journal-of-learning-and-instruction-mjli-vol-11-2014
institution	Universiti Utara Malaysia
building	UUM Library
collection	Institutional Repository
continent	Asia
country	Malaysia
content_provider	Universiti Utara Malaysia
content_source	UUM Institutional Repository
url_provider	http://repo.uum.edu.my/
language	English
topic	LB2300 Higher Education
spellingShingle	LB2300 Higher Education Ali, Jamal Lim, Hock Eam Ismail, Russayani Abdul Rahim, Fauziah Md Isa, Filzah Ismail, Ismi Arif The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers
description	Purpose – This study examined the effectiveness of Finishing School programmes in enhancing the employability of graduates from institutions of higher learning. The perceptions of the graduates and employers towards the effectiveness of the programmes were analyzed. The effectiveness of Finishing School programmes evaluated through a graduate marketability outcome study and the expectations of employers with regard to the type of soft skills of graduates most needed by industries were also examined.Methodology – Data for this study were obtained through a survey questionnaire administered to graduates and focus group interviews with selected employers. The primary data involved a large sample (n = 1092) of graduates from public universities and also 31 selected employers from various industries. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and a multinomial logit model. Due to the unavailability of a population frame, the data were collected using a convenient sampling design.Findings – Graduates had a positive perception of the effectiveness of Finishing School programmes. However, in terms of the marketability outcome, Finishing school programmes currently being offered were seen as ineffective. Interviews with offi cers at the management level from various companies showed that the local graduates were lacking in certain types of soft skills, particularly in English communication skills, compared with their counterparts who graduated from higher education institutions overseas. Employers listed three skills as critical for graduates to have, namely, problem solving skills, information management (exposure to general knowledge, current issues and ICT) and English communication.Significance –Most of the soft skills which employers have identifi ed as important in enhancing graduates’ employability have long been emphasized by the local higher learning institutions through their Finishing School programmes. Hence, it was concluded that the existing Finishing School programmes are indeed moving in the right direction in achieving its desired objectives. However, there is still room for improvement. This is especially so in relation to its implementation as the empirical evidence seems to suggest that current Finishing School programmes are not effective in terms of graduate marketability outcome.
format	Article
author	Ali, Jamal Lim, Hock Eam Ismail, Russayani Abdul Rahim, Fauziah Md Isa, Filzah Ismail, Ismi Arif
author_facet	Ali, Jamal Lim, Hock Eam Ismail, Russayani Abdul Rahim, Fauziah Md Isa, Filzah Ismail, Ismi Arif
author_sort	Ali, Jamal
title	The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers
title_short	The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers
title_full	The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers
title_fullStr	The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers
title_full_unstemmed	The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers
title_sort	effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers
publisher	Universiti Utara Malaysia Press
publishDate	2014
url	http://repo.uum.edu.my/27416/1/MJLI%2011%202014%20147%20170.pdf http://repo.uum.edu.my/27416/ http://mjli.uum.edu.my/index.php/previous-issues/133-malaysian-journal-of-learning-and-instruction-mjli-vol-11-2014
_version_	1677783830722772992
score	13.211869

The effectiveness of finishing school programmes from the perspectives of graduates and employers

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