Fresh graduates are generally unprepared

for the workplace: Something is lacking

UNIVERSITY students are generally unprepared for the workplace upon graduation — this is not new;
countless studies and surveys have stated as much.

Complaints of fresh jobseekers with poor English language competency, lacking interpersonal
and problem-solving skills and displaying a poor work attitude, among others, are commonly
heard.

This has pushed universities to come up with programmes to try and address these
shortcomings.

Mr S. Nackeeran, a senior lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, notes that students in

the public universities are generally not mentally ready to do things on their own.

“The term university refers to the universality of the learning process — not just book learning
— where most of the learning is managed by the students who are guided by the lecturers.

“This is not the case in Malaysia where our tertiary students still expect to be spoon-fed the
same way they were in school.”

He gives the example of organising school activities, which in the earlier days, were mostly
undertaken by the students themselves.

This led to them picking up the soft skills that made them employable upon graduation.

Today, universities end up having to organise activities for the students in the hopes that they
will acquire skills while taking part in them.

This, however, is partly the universities’ fault as they have stricter regulations and ideas on
‘acceptable’ activities for students to do.

While measures have been undertaken to try and arrest the problem of unemployable graduates,
these are largely ineffective, says Nackeeran.

Looking at how much emphasis is placed on academic work, leaving little time for soft skills
training, he would suggest making it compulsory for students from all disciplines to attend a
semester-long programme dedicated to nothing but soft skills training.

It could either be part of their required credit hours or set up as an additional qualification, such
as a diploma of some sort.

“And the programme should be drawn up according to the skills required — interpersonal
skills, management skills, general knowledge, language and communication skills and even
dressing,” he says.
While years ago, a place in the university was a symbol of status in itself, this is not the case
today.

Now it has come down to a materialistic level where issues of what can be done with the degree
and of employability take precedence.

Lim Gene Harn, a green building consultant who graduated from a public university a few
years ago, agrees that the tertiary education system is not providing the talents that the industry
needs.

A number of lecturers are also more academic driven and focused on research. They are out of
touch with industry needs.

“I was surprised because when I was a fresh graduate and new recruit to the working world, I
was providing the institutions with information on what’s happening ‘outside’.

“I think one way to address this problem is to make internships mandatory for all courses so
that students will get a better idea of the needs of employers and on how they can equip
themselves with the necessary skills,” he says.

However, he says, the responsibility of producing work-ready graduates should not rest solely
on universities. Industry players can do their part by working with universities to facilitate
industrial attachment, student sponsorship programmes and sending their professionals to
universities as visiting lecturers.

Professor Khong Yoon Loong, KDU University vice-chancellor, also disagrees that tertiary
institutions are solely responsible for creating employable graduates.

While tertiary institutions have in place programmes to help their graduates be more
employable — government initiatives through the public universities and self-developed ones
in private ones — these alone are not enough to correct habits and attitudes formed during the
formative primary and secondary school years.

Issues such as English language and interpersonal skills and the right attitude towards work
cannot be addressed in the few short years spent at a university.

“If the foundation is weak, then the building is shaky; I sometimes feel that tertiary institutions
are trying to strengthen the foundation while building on it — a tough job.

“Traits such as creativity, passion, good character, emotional intelligence, good English skills
— everything necessary for a fast moving, rapid changing 21st century technology driven work
environment — must be developed right from day one in school,” he says.

http://www.therakyatpost.com/allsides/2014/02/17/fresh-graduates-are-generally-unprepared-for-
the-workplace-something-is-lacking/