(Mis)match between higher education supply and labour market needs: evidence from Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Olo ◽  
Leonida Correia ◽  
Maria da Conceição Rego
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Job Offers ◽  
Education Supply ◽  
Market Needs

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse whether there is an adjustment between the Portuguese higher education supply and the needs of the labour market.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study is performed, using a quantitative approach, relating the job offers for graduates registered at the employment centres and the number of graduates by higher education institutions (HEIs) in Portugal, at an aggregate level and NUT II regions, by areas of education and training, over the 2003–2018 period. To understand how job offers and graduates are correlated, bilateral Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated.FindingsThe results show that, in large groups of educational areas, exists a match between the higher education supply and the labour market needs, with an emphasis on the fields of “social sciences, business and law”, “engineering, manufacturing and construction” and “health and welfare”. However, at a more disaggregated level, a mismatch in the sub-areas of “teacher training and education science” and “computing” was found since labour market needs are much greater than graduates by HEIs and the two variables are moving in opposite directions.Practical implicationsThe study has revealed important aspects that the educational policy should take into account in order to create the conditions for a gradual adjustment to the labour market needs. Also, the results demonstrate that some measures should be taken in short/medium term to avoid problems in the medium/long term.Originality/valueOne implication of this empirical study was the elaboration of a correspondence table to standardise the data analysis units from two different sources. As this correspondence did not exist prior to this study, this output is a relevant contribution to the research field. Another important contribution is the demonstration of a mismatch in some educational sub-areas that deserves special attention from educational policymakers.

AMLO’s plans may fail to meet Mexican student demands

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Reform ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Higher Education Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expanded Access ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Student Demands

Significance Anger over such issues reached a crescendo this month, with several schools at the UNAM staging strikes and a massive student demonstration taking place at the institution’s Mexico City campus on September 5. Graue appears to have calmed the situation for now, but students in seven schools of UNAM are still demanding changes before resuming lessons. Impacts Managing students’ expectations will be crucial if the incoming administration is to prevent unrest from flaring again. Broader student demands, such as accountability, transparency and security will compound AMLO’s challenges. Any higher education reform will require improvements in quality and expanded access, particularly in the poorest states. Making higher education respond to labour market needs will be essential for AMLO’s efforts to reduce inequality.

scholarly journals “It's a very different world”: work transition and employability of higher education graduates

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sílvia Monteiro ◽  
Leandro Almeida ◽  
Adela García-Aracil
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Transition ◽  
Dynamic Perspective ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study addresses the specific topic of transition between higher education and the world of work, taking differences naturally inherent to the individual and to the surrounding micro and macro contexts. With a holistic approach, this paper aimed to provide a deeper understanding about the university-to-work transition process in a period of turbulence and continuous changes in the labour market.Design/methodology/approachThe three research questions that guide this qualitative study are as follows: (1) What are the factors that facilitate the transition to the labour market? (2) What are the factors that constrain the transition to the labour market? (3) What are graduates' perceptions of their employability? To answer these questions, eleven graduates were interviewed about facilitators and barriers of the transition process and perceptions of employability. Data collected from the interviews were then related to categories previously defined from the literature review. Version 12.0 of the NVivo software was used to support the process of data analysis.FindingsOverall, participants' discourse refer to a multidimensional and dynamic perspective of factors related with work transition and employability. The obtained results indicate that the lack of career agency during graduation and professional experiences, together with late career exploration processes, represent possible barriers of transition, especially in study fields with targeted job offers. Likewise, experiences promoting the development of competencies through supportive practice from teachers, mentors and colleagues are referred as facilitators of transition.Practical implicationsOne of the most consistent outcomes of the interviews conducted concerns the importance of a stronger focus on developing practical experiences during higher education studies. This empirical study demonstrated how this type of experience can mitigate the impact of the transition from university to the labour market.Originality/valueThis empirical study demonstrated how work being integrated into learning in curricula can mitigate the impact of the transition from university to the labour market. It offers important insights about possible strategies that could be adopted to promote graduates' employability from a perspective of shared responsibility.

Adapting educational programmes according to e-competence needs

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elissaveta Gourova ◽  
Vassil Kadrev ◽  
Anushka Stancheva ◽  
Georgi Kostadinov Petrov ◽  
Mila Dragomirova
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Ict Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Knowledge Based Economy ◽  
Educational Programmes ◽  
Market Needs

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to present the experience of New Bulgarian University (NBU) and the methodology followed for changing its educational programmes and developing new ones according to the labour market needs. Design/methodology/approach – Initially, the paper focuses on the need for adapting curricula for meeting the labour market demands for information and communication technologies (ICT) professional skills. It provides an overview of the ICT skills supply and demand trends in Europe. A special emphasis is made on the dialogue of leading stakeholders in Europe for developing European E-Competence Framework. After introducing the overall picture in Europe, the paper presents the environment in Bulgaria for higher education, research and innovation and the ICT skills challenges in the country. The last part of the paper is based on the project methodology and its results. First, the methodology behind the design of a new Masters programme is given, and next, the concepts for adapting NBU educational programmes according to the labour market needs are presented. Findings – Bulgarian universities seldom introduce multidisciplinary educational programmes. Generally, industry involvement in higher education is at low level, and university programmes are not linked to skills needs of future employees. Some good examples exist in the ICT university – business collaboration. Originality/value – The development of information economy depends on the existence of adequate skills for using and developing ICT. In the last decades, ICT skills supply and demand remains an evergreen issue in many European Union Member States. Bulgaria also faces the challenges of meeting industrial demands for e-competences of its workforce. The paper presents an approach which could be followed by other university teams in designing or changing their educational programmes. At the same time, it provides insight on the overall environment in the country, and the challenges which different stakeholders face in the development of the knowledge-based economy.

Quality higher education drives employability in the Middle East

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 1057-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Nauffal ◽  
Jennifer Skulte-Ouaiss
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse and explain the high rates of employability of one group of Middle East youth by focussing on liberal arts and soft skills education as an integral part of quality higher education. Design/methodology/approach This paper employs the survey research method using questionnaires, focus groups and interviews to understand the labour market dynamics in Lebanon and explore factors that correlate positively with gainful employment with a special focus on the graduates of an institution that emphasises the liberal arts and soft skills training. Findings The paper finds that quality higher education – particularly with a focus on soft skills and internships – boosts the potential of graduates to secure their first jobs after graduation. Research limitations/implications Reliable data on higher education, employability and youth are scarce in Lebanon and the region. The paper is based on one labour market study in Lebanon while seeking to extrapolate to Lebanese youth as a whole as well as reflect on employability and youth in the Middle East region. Practical implications The paper demonstrates support for improving quality in higher education as well as making soft skills training and the liberal arts critical components for increased employability of youth in Lebanon and the Middle East. Originality/value The paper is innovative in its reliance on primary data from a labour market survey as such data are scarce in Lebanon. In addition, advocacy for soft skills training and the liberal arts in the midst of focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics and other professional education at the university level is rare in the Middle East.

scholarly journals Virtual reality and gamification in marketing higher education: a review and research agenda

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Maria Correia Loureiro ◽  
Ricardo Godinho Bilro ◽  
Fernando José de Aires Angelino
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Topics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Education Experience ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Search Terms

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review studies on the use of virtual reality (VR) and gamification to engage students in higher education for marketing issues to identify the research topics, the research gaps and to prepare a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approach A literature review is performed based on two search terms applied to Web of Science, resulting in a final pool of 115 articles. A text-mining approach is used to conduct a full-text analysis of papers related to VR and gamification in higher education. The authors also compare the salient characteristics presented in the articles. Findings From this analysis, five major research topics are found and analysed, namely, teaching methodologies and education, experience and motivation, student engagement, applied theories in VR and gamification. Based on this and following the theory concept characteristics methodology framework, the paper provides directions for future research. Originality/value There is no comprehensive review exploring the topics, theories, constructs and methods used in prior studies concerning VR and gamification applied to higher education services based on all the articles published in well-regarded academic journals. This review seeks to provide deeper insights, to help scholars contribute to the development of this research field.

scholarly journals Opening universities’ doors for business? Marketization, the search for differentiation and employability in England

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
NICCOLO DURAZZI
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Competitive Environment ◽  
Educational Provision ◽  
Education Market ◽  
Key Driver ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Higher Education Market

Abstract The article investigates the causes and consequences of the increased engagement of British universities with employability and skills initiatives. By employing case studies of six universities based in England, it asks whether the increased engagement between higher education and the labour market is driven by universities or business and whether such engagement has increased the diversity of the higher education sector. Findings suggest that the alignment between labour market needs and educational provision in universities is strongly mediated by the competitive environment within which higher education institutions have been operating since the late 1990s: the higher education market – not the labour market – is the key driver for universities to engage in employability and skills initiatives. The article also questions the assumption that ‘competition’ leads to ‘differentiation’ in higher education. Rather, isomorphic tendencies seem to prevail over differentiation in the context of a highly competitive higher education market.

Employability of higher education graduates in Europe

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 418-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samo Pavlin ◽  
Ivan Svetlik
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Strategic Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scientific Approach ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on “Employability of higher education graduates in europe” from the perspective of global changes. Design/methodology/approach – The empirically based papers of the special issue address six main areas related to the transition of graduates from education to the labour market: employment and employability, job (mis)match, development of particular areas of competency, new certificates of higher education, along with the disciplinarity and status of the self-perceived role of academics in supporting graduates’ careers. Findings – This issue provides empirical findings relevant to various stakeholders of higher education systems which are essential for strategic development in the area. Originality/value – The selection of papers proposes an interdisciplinary scientific approach in the areas of bridging (higher) education with the labour market.

scholarly journals Enhancing the Employability of Chinese International Students: Identifying Achievements and Gaps in the Research Field

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-89
Author(s):  
Xuemeng Cao ◽  
Xuemeng Cao
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Chinese International Students ◽  
Future Research ◽  
International Dimension ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
Retrospective Account

This article shows what achievements have been made by existing studies on graduate employability, and what gaps need to be filled in this field. It starts with a retrospective account of the changing concept of employability, followed by a presentation of the practices that have been used to support graduate employability enhancement in different countries. Moreover, this article gives a critical review of Chinese contexts of graduate labour market. Last but not least, limitations of existing studies are identified, which reflect an expectation for future research on graduate employability to meet the demand of an increasingly international dimension of higher education.

scholarly journals Overeducation and Mismatches at the Labour Market - Albania Case

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 211
Author(s):  
Migen Elmazaj
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Labor Market ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
National Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Constant Increase ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Market Needs

There is a constant increase in the graduates supply in the labour market in Albania. It seems that the expansion is going on a basis that risks distorting the distribution of students not in line with labor market needs. These expansions have been predicated on the assumption that more education is good for individuals and for society as a whole, not only in terms of economic outcomes like wages or employment, but also for a wide range of social outcomes like improved health and higher well-being. However, along with expansion of the system has come a range of new questions that have emerged as consequence of being many more tertiary graduates. For example, has the increase in tertiary graduates resulted in an oversupply of workers with tertiary qualifications, and thus a decline in the ‘value of a degree?’ If overeducation is a temporary disequilibrium or a permanent feature of economy; if the subject of degree affects the likelihood of being overeducated etc. are raised. This paper represents a research, aiming a total covering of the labour market measuring the overeducation rate for the graduates in Albania and drawing some take aways. The main contribution of the paper consists in providing estimations of graduate overeducation rate in national level. Some guidelines for possible recommendations for policies makers, relevant government agencies, higher education institutions, parents and other stakeholders involved in higher education sector in Albania, are also provided.

Japan's bright jobs data hide gloomier reality

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Unemployment Rate ◽  
Quarter Century ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Job Offers ◽  
Part Time ◽  
High Employment ◽  
New Jobs

Subject Japan's labour market. Significance The number of people with jobs is near its all-time high. Employment has increased in year-on-year terms for 58 straight months. The 2.8% unemployment rate is the lowest in a quarter-century, and there are more than two new jobs for every applicant. However, Japan still has a labour surplus, because many employed people work only part-time. Impacts Retail and other services in particular will face labour shortages. Employers will be forced to consider enhancing job offers with higher pay, longer hours and more benefits. By the end of 2018, higher wages will translate into higher prices as the labour pool shrinks.

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