Employment and Employability at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Perspectives of Undergraduate Students in Cambodia

Abstract

This paper has adopted an employability model introduced by the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) in 2004 to examine student employment at Cambodia's Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), focusing on the situation of employability during their studies and after graduation, as well as the antecedents of job capacity. The research is based on an online survey conducted among 482 students from 37 private and public universities across the nation. We also conducted key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, and a focus group discussion (FGD) for qualitative data. The research used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and the Chi-square test for quantitative analysis, and we also adopted qualitative interpretation to explain and clarify the survey findings. The research reveals that HEIs have promoted access to knowledge, skills, and competencies in response to the demands of the job market. The research finds that the monthly salaries obtained by students during their studies are inadequate to hire employees with high job capacity. There is a negative relationship between job capacity and expected salaries after graduation. Students with low job capacity tend to expect a high monthly salary upon graduation. Competencies are a mediating research variable to job capacity. The students have access to university knowledge and experience from the workplace. The paper uses SEM to contribute to the literature on employability from Cambodia's HEIs, focusing on knowledge, skills, competencies, career development, and job capacity. In the future, policymakers, planners, practitioners, educators, students, and parents may consider promoting employability at HEIs by increasing collaboration among key stakeholders to create opportunities for students in building skills and competencies for job-readiness after graduation.