Graduate Employability and Communication Competence: Are Undergraduates Taught Relevant Skills?

an article by Trish L. Clokie and Elna Fourie (Waikato Institute of Technology, New Zealand) published in Business and Professional Communication Quarterly Volume 79 Number 4 (2016)

Abstract

This research establishes the role of communication education in employability by determining how employers of graduates view communication, identifying communication skills that employers view as relevant, and establishing whether these skills are included in communication courses.

To achieve these aims, local businesses were surveyed, and the results were compared with communication course descriptors.

The research shows, consistent with worldwide trends, that local employers value communication competencies highly when recruiting new graduates, and specific communication skills required in an industry reflect course content. However, some skills are still lacking, and the research questions where the responsibility lies in developing these skills.

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