Management Graduates Employability (With a Special Reference to State Universities in Sri Lanka)

Abstract

Unemployment among graduates is a burning problem in the Sri Lankan economy. It is argued that the degree programs have been confined to conventional subject areas and conventional teaching-learning methods. The private sector and even the public sector are more concerned with skills and attitudes rather than knowledge possessed by graduates. This research is specially focused on the implications of industrial training on bridging this competency gap among local university graduates. This study explores the implications of industrial training on the employability of the management graduates who are passing out from the state universities in Sri Lanka. Although a considerable amount of literature addresses employability skills, much of the information is theoretical and offers prescriptive advice. The paper presents findings of a survey that investigated graduates who went through industrial training and the substance implications of the training towards employability. The quantitative approach was used in this study where the findings were quantified and presented in a more precise manner. A total of 300 sample populations were selected for this study following the convenience sampling technique. Data were gathered through a survey using a Likert scale questionnaire. Survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as mean, median, variance, and standard deviation. The findings suggest that there is a direct and significant implication from the industrial training towards the potential employability of the graduates. Further, the findings suggest that the chances of being successful in finding employment and sustainability will be based on the richness of the training that the graduate holds.