Integrated solution model to support competitiveness and relevance of vocational education in the era of technological disruption

The aspect of relevance becomes an indicator of the success of vocational education. In order for vocational school graduates to be able to compete in the era of technological disruption, Vocational Schools are required to be able to produce graduates who have the alignment of competencies possessed by each graduate with the competencies needed in the world of work. To achieve the relevance of vocational education, the development of an integrated solution model for the preparation of vocational education graduates needs to be based on the need for ICT-assisted career services. In this study, survey design was used to examine the mapping of student/graduate needs, career service managers, and graduate users and development design to design an integrated solution model for the preparation of vocational education graduates. The results of mapping the needs of students/graduates, career service managers, and users are used as the basis for developing an integrated solution model for preparing vocational education graduates. It is hoped that this model can be used to optimize career services for students and vocational school graduates in Indonesia in the era of technological disruption.

The university-to-work transition: responses of universities and organizations to the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand how universities and organizations have responded to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of preparing university students and recent graduates to enter the global labor market, using the accounting, banking and finance sector as a case study. The two research questions are (1) How can university career services and organizations work individually and collaboratively to best develop early career talent following the COVID-19 pandemic? (2) What are the challenges that university career services and organizations face when working individually or collaboratively to develop early career talent following the COVID-19 pandemic?Design/methodology/approachThe data for thematic analysis comes from 36 semi-structured interviews with career advisors (CAs) (n = 19) and graduate recruiters (GRs) (n = 17).FindingsThis study offers some of the first findings on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to ensure that organizational behavior and career theory literature reflect the dramatically changing landscape in the university-to-work transition.Originality/valueTheoretically, our contribution comes from applying a framework of the career construction theory (CTT) within the context of a career ecosystem to understand the views of the intermediary, meso-level actors, which, to date, have lacked representation within career literature. Practically, we provide an insightful bridge between universities and organizations, offering opportunities for greater collaboration, and enhanced outcomes for all stakeholders.

Transition to Employment: A Guide for Supporting Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities

This guide is a resource for supporting post-secondary institutions, namely representatives from career services, co-operative education, and disability support offices. The guide is designed to help those supporting post-secondary students with disabilities as they transition to the workforce.

Online Work Readiness Programme: Ready, Set, Go!

There has always been pressure on higher education institutions to enhance the employability of graduates and to instil knowledge, skills, and attributes that will be beneficial to future employers. The impact of Covid‑19 on a global, national, and local level is placing even more pressure on the topic of employability. Graduates are uncertain about job availability and there is a need for career guidance. After a national and local shutdown of university campuses in 2015 and 2016 due to #FeesMustFall, Career Services staff at the University of the Free State designed and created online work readiness programmes in order for students to continue with work preparations, no matter what the circumstances. In 2018, the first topics on CV‑writing and job interview skills were rolled out online and made available to all registered students; each semester, two additional topics were added. By the time Covid‑19 led to a national lockdown in South Africa in March 2020, the transition to online work readiness programmes was fairly easy. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of the online work readiness programmes offered on the Blackboard platform from April to June 2020 during the Covid‑19 pandemic and national lockdown. This article will provide an analysis of a questionnaire conducted with willing participants who have engaged and worked through the online work readiness programmes from April to June 2020, to investigate the impact on graduates’ readiness for the world of work. Through the survey, students shared their learning experiences and the influence it has had on their career planning. It is believed that the findings of this research study will create a deeper understanding of how career services, as a particular functional area in student affairs, can reposition itself during uncertain times to remain responsive to the needs of students.