Adewolu Ogwo, Adetoun;
(2024)
Higher Education, skills development and students' preparedness for employability: a case study of the University of Lagos, Nigeria (towards a sustained practice approach with the triple helix model of innovation).
Doctoral thesis (Ed.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
In Nigeria, 1.7 million graduates annually face an unemployment crisis, The gap in skills supply and economic demand calls for an examination of entrenched paradigms and practice. University of Lagos (UNILAG) stands as a catalyst for bridging gaps in students’ cultural capital with educational provision. This mixed-method research (MMR) study of 403 final-year surveyed students and 57 interviewed HE leaders, recruiters, final year students and alumni explores graduate employability. The findings advocate for effective school-to-work transitions, prioritizing micro-level interventions alongside macro-job creation, including career guidance, mentorship, and skill-specific training, UNILAG implements various initiatives, but student engagement is crucial; 25% students and 45 % alumni were aware of UNILAG’s entrepreneurship & skill development centre and career programs requiring increased awareness. 44% students felt unprepared for the economy, highlighting the need for integrated career centers and strengthened SIWEs programs. Human Capital, Signaling, Credentialism, and Social Capital theories are analyzed to understand how degrees correlate and impact graduate outcomes. The study advocates a meta-theorizing approach to reforming curricula with market demands alongside multistakeholder, data-driven, industry partners collaborating to democratize students' career and entrepreneurial paths, in alignment with local and global economic demands. Stakeholders should adopt inclusive strategies for career transitions that blend economic and social justice into education and employment, moving beyond Western norms of employability and hiring, while navigating ‘Adapt, Adopt, or Contextualize’ choices. Driven by a graduate identity shaped by credentials, do HEIS equip students with competencies to navigate a disruptive world? Is curricula adapting to market dynamics? Does recruitment align with merit performance capabilities? The study calls for sustained stakeholders’ approach to foster adaptable education, workforce insights, and practical learning opportunities. Through organizational development, triple helix actors must champion youth-centric change, integrating university efforts and economic strategies to empower Nigeria’s graduates and advance Nigeria’s production and economic development. Keywords: Graduate Employability, Career Services, Universities, Triple Helix Stakeholders, UNILAG
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ed.D |
| Title: | Higher Education, skills development and students' preparedness for employability: a case study of the University of Lagos, Nigeria (towards a sustained practice approach with the triple helix model of innovation) |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| Keywords: | skills, employability, Higher Education, Graduate employability |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10185990 |
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