Perspectives of stakeholders on engineering graduate employability

This paper reports on the outcomes of a large federally funded project on graduate employability. The project explored the perspective of stakeholders from multiple disciplines: this paper focuses on outcomes for engineering stakeholders. Engineering work experience is generally considered the best way to develop employability for engineering undergraduates, however there are now insufficient placements to the increasing number of students. Employers continue to report gaps in graduate skills and attitudes, while academics resist teaching generic skills. This paper reports on the perceptions of employability of engineering stakeholders and maps similarities and differences through the lens of the CareerEDGE employability framework. This framework was chosen because it is systematic, comprehensive, and adaptable. A qualitative research methodology was used, with data collected through a series of small focus group discussions and interviews. The study found that students' breadth of knowledge of concepts relevant to employability was similar to both graduates, academics and employers: they were clearly aware that employers expect far more than just discipline knowledge. Students and graduates reported that extra-curricular, volunteer, life and work experience contributed most to the development of their employability. Stakeholder perceptions varied significantly in complexity. Students had much simpler perceptions than employers, even though they had undertaken a projectbased learning program and many had work experience. Recommendations to enhance graduate employability include to design curriculum and assessments for employability, from the beginning to the end of programs. Team teaching and working closely with industry is also recommended