The Relationship between Students' Assessment of Information Technology Skills and their Employability

Subject Areas : Infomartion Technology

Amir Alambeigi ¹ , Shahla Aghapour ²

1 - Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Development, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 - M.A. in Agricultural Education, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Development, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2013-11-12 Accepted : 2014-08-17 Published : 2013-11-01

Keywords: Employability, IT Skills, Partial Least Square (PLS), Tehran University Agriscience Students,

Abstract :

Today, unemployment is a serious crisis in many countries of the world. Therefore, this research explored the relationship between students' evaluation of their information technology (IT) skills and their employability among Tehran University agriscience postgraduate students. The research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population comprised of 1491 Tehran University agriscience postgraduate students. Based on Kerjesy and Morgan table, 310 agriscience postgraduate students were selected by random sampling. The research tool was a questionnaire with different parts employed for measuring variables whose face validity was confirmed by panel study. Alpha coefficient ranged from 0.79 to 0.81 showed satisfied reliability. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was the statistical method used in the study. The results indicated that all the three skills related to employability including team working, personal management and fundamental skills have received a significant effect from skills related to information technology. Also, information technology skills showed greatest effect on team working, of which up to 55% of employability variance can be explained.

References:

1. Avramenko, A. (2012). Enhancing students’ employability through business simulation. International Journal of Education & Training, 54 (5), 355-367.


2. Bonfiglioli, E., Moir, L., & Ambrosini, V. (2006). Developing the wider role of business in society: The experience of Microsoft in developing training and supporting employability. International Journal of Business in Society, 6(4), 401-408.


3. Chin, W. W., & Newsted, P. R. (1999). Structural equation modeling analysis with small sample using partial least squares. In Rick Hoyle (Ed.), Statistical Strategies for Small Sample Research. Sage Publications, 307-341.


4. Clarke, M. (2008). Understanding and managing employability in changing career contexts. Journal of European Industrial Training, 32(4), 258-284.


5. Curtis, D., & Mckenzie, P. (2002). Employability skills for Australian industry: Literature review and framework development. Retrieved from http://www decs. sa.gov.au/learningandwork/files/links/literature_researc_1.pdf


6. Dacre Pool, l., & Sewell, P. (2007). The key to employability: Developing a practical model of graduate employability. International Journal of Education & Training, 49(4), 277-289.


7. Durrani, N., & Tariq, V. N. (2012). The role of numeracy skills in graduate employability. Journal of Education ‏Training, 54(5), 419-434.


8. Ferasatkhah, M. (2008). Iranian University and Quality Issue (First edition). Agah Publication Institute. (in Persian).


9. Fugate, M., Kinicki, A. J., & Ashforth, B. E. (2004). Employability: A psycho-social construct, its dimensions, and applications. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 65, 14-38.


10. Garrido, M., Sullivan, J., & Gordon, A. (2006). Understanding the links between ICT skills training and employability: An analytical framework. Retrieved from  http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/ict4d/ictd2010/papers/ICTD2010


11. Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tathan, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1998). Multivariate Data Analysis (5th ed). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.


12. Hesketh, A. J. (2000). Recruiting an elite? Employers’ perceptions of graduate education and training. Journal of Education and Work, 13(3), 245-271.


13. Hinchliffe, G. (2006). Graduate employability and lifelong learning: A need for realism? Journal of Learning and Employability, 14(1), 91-104.


14. Kagaari, J. R. (2007). Evaluation of the effects of vocational choice and practical training on students’ employability. Journal of European Industrial Training, 31(6), 449-47.


15. Knight, P., & York, M. (2004). Learning, Curriculum and Employability in Higher Education (First Published). Routledge Falmer: Taylor and Francis e-Library.


16. Macfarlane, D., & Roy, A. (2006). Employability: Enhancing student employability: Innovative project across the curriculum. University of Clasgow. Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Retrieved from www. enhancementthemes.ac.uk.


17. Majchrzak, A., Beath, C., Lim, R., & Chin, W. W. (2005). Management client dialogues during information system design to facilitate client learning. MIS Quarterly Journal, 29(4), 653-672.


18. McQuade, E., & Maguire, T. (2005). Individuals and their employability. Journal of European Industrial Training, 29(6), 447-456.


19. Miniti, M., Bygrave ,W. D., & Autio, E. (2006). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2005 Executive Report. Babson College and London Business School. Retrieved from http://web.esbri.se/pdf/gemglobalreport_2005.pdf


20. Rae, D. (2007). Connecting enterprise and graduate employability challenges to the higher education culture and curriculum? Journal of Education & Training, 49(8/9), 605-619.


21. Robinson, J. P. (2000). What are employability skills? The workplace: A fact Sheet. Retrieved April 6, 2008, from http://www.aces.edu/crd/workforce/publications/ employability-skills.PDF


22. Rosenberg, S., Heimler, R., & Morote, E. (2012). Basic employability skills: A triangular design approach. Journal of Education Training, 54(1), 7-20.


23. Rothwell, A., & Charleston, B. (2013). International volunteering: Employability, leadership and more. Journal of Education Training, 55(2), 159-173.


24. Rothwell, A., Herbert, I., & Rothwell, F. (2007). Self-perceived employability: Construction and initial validation of a scale for university students. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 73(1), 1–12.


25. Sambrook, S. (2006). Developing a model of factors influencing work-related learning: Findings from two research projects. In J Streumer (ED). Work-Related Learning, 95-125. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.


26. Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. (2003). Higher Education: Higher Ambitions?Graduate Employability in Scotland. Retrieved from http://www. criticalthinking.co.uk/higheredhigheramb.pdf


27. Sheffield Hallam University. (2008). Student Perspectives on Employability. Retrieved  June 6, 2008, from extra.shu.ac.uk/cetl/cetlview/cetlview8.pdf


28.  Stephens, D., & Hamblin, Y. (2006). Employability skills: Are UK LIM departments meeting employment needs?: The results of a survey of employment agencies identifies gaps in UK LIM curricula in the UK. Journal of New Library World, 107(5/6), 218-227.


29. Sullivan, J., Garrido, M., Dridi, Kh., Coward, C. & Gordon, A. (2007). ICT training and employability: Integrated service delivery in United States workforce development networks. Center for Internet Studies Working Paper Series. University of Washington Center for Internet Studies. Retrieved from http://www.cis.washington.edu/docs/publications/CIS_workforce_june07.pdf


30. Warraich, N. F. (2008). LIS Graduates Employability-Needs and Expectations of the Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum at the University of the Punjab (PU): An appraisal of Pakistani LIS Professionals. University of the Punjab. Lahore, Pakistan. World Library and Information Congress: 74th IFLA General Conference and Council. August 2008, Quebec, Canada. Retrieved from http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla74/index.htm


31. Yorke, M. (2006). Learning and Employability, Employability and higher education: What it is – What it is not. The Higher Education Academy.Retrieved from http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets


32. Zhiwen, G., & Van der Heijden, B. (2008). Employability enhancement of business graduates in China reacting upon challenges of globalization and labour market demands. International Journal of Education ‏ Training, 50(4), 289-304.