Exploring Career Decisions and Employability Skills among Engineering Students in Vocational Colleges

Abstract

Malaysia is committed to achieving sustainable growth along with fair and equitable distribution across income groups, ethnicities, regions, and supply chains. The commitment aims to enhance the nation's prosperity and be prepared with a sufficient skilled and semiskilled workforce. However, there is a lack of proficiency and sensitivity of the technical and vocational graduates for the various career-enhancing programs organized by the government. The graduates do not have clear action plans and strategies to meet the needs of the industrial market. In addition, there is a concern from the industries about the graduates' job skills to succeed in their careers. Therefore, this study aimed to explore career decisions and the level of employability skills based on gender, academic achievement, and career exposure among engineering students in vocational colleges in Selangor, Malaysia. The researcher used a survey design and quantitative approach for this research. Respondents for this study are the first and second year of engineering students in Selangor vocational colleges. The findings show that the level of career decision and employability skills are at a moderate high level for most demographic groups. This study also serves as a reference to stakeholders to identify students' career decisions and employability skills in vocational colleges. Administrators and educators are recommended to play an active role in integrating career information and guidance in the learning process efficiently in order to improve students' career decisions and employability skills.

The Influence of Innovative Characteristics, Work Readiness, and Vocational Self-Concept on Employability of Vocational College Students

“…Zhang (2021) suggest that there is a need of studies on the relationship and influence of family environment on the employability of vocational college students. This recommendation is also supported with the evidence by a Malaysian study that says 60.1% of career exposure in Johor vocational college students is actually contributed by family and friends (Bakry et al, 2020). Another variable that has link with the employability of vocational college students is English proficiency.…”

“…Especially focusing on vocational self-concept will be a great way to enhance the skills needed for career later on because vocational students are very low in vocational self-concept. This is supported by a study from Bakry et al (2020), that there is lack of proficiency in the career enhancing programs organized by government on TVET students. Vocational colleges should also figure out on being a major part of preparing work-ready students.…”