Examining Malaysian Students' Life Experiences and their Employability upon Graduation

Purpose: The present study examined the relationship between Malaysian students' life experiences while studying at higher education institutions in Malaysia and their employability after graduation. Design/methodology/approach: Using the cross-sectional method, 323 Malaysian graduates who graduated within three years upon graduation, both employed and unemployed, participated in this study. Since moving across the states was limited due to Malaysia Movement Control Order (MCO), the questionnaires were distributed using Google Form via Whatsapp (June-August 2021). Findings: The present study found that Malaysian graduates' experiences of studying overseas, staying at the hostel campus, being active with extra-curricular activities, being committee members in organising programmes at national level and being committee members in organising programmes at international level during their studies were positively related to their employability. Research limitations: This research studied only five (5) core factors on students' life experiences which may related to the chances of being highly employable after graduation. Future research should consider studying a few more factors on students' life experiences contributing to graduates' employability. Practical implications: The implication is more on the recent students of higher education institutions. By knowing the significance of these five factors that can contribute to their employability, the current students should strive to follow these five factors that may increase their chances to be employed in the future. Originality/value: This research is probably the first time that these five factors were studied empirically in the field of graduate employability. The results are important for the current students in the higher education institutions to realise the factors that may enhance their chances of employability. Keywords: Malaysian students and graduates, Students' life experiences, Graduates' employability
Introduction The global graduate skills gap in the 21st Century has been considered as a global and significantly widespread issue. The QS Employer Survey 2018 and QS Applicant Survey 2018 [...]