Main Article Content

Abstract

The study’s primary purpose was to expose science curriculum quality and instructional resource adequacy as variables affecting the employability skills acquisition level of potential science graduates. With the adoption of the survey research design, the study employed three different questionnaires to collect data from three groups comprising potential science graduates, lecturers of various colleges/faculties of science of universities, as well as employers of labor in South-West Nigeria. The collected data were analyzed using various statistical methods such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicated that an increase in the science curriculum quality and the availability of instructional resources corresponded to an increase in employability skills acquisition level, and these relationships were found to be statistically significant. The study concludes by recommending the need for collaboration among stakeholders to develop and implement innovative and high-quality science curricula and instructional resources to foster relevant and modern employability skills in science graduates.

Keywords

Employability skills higher education institutions instructional resources adequacy science curriculum quality Nigeria

Article Details

Author Biographies

Olukemi Ogunniran, Adeleke University, Nigeria

Olukemi Omolola OGUNNIRAN is a lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Science at Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. She holds a PhD in Educational Management with a specialization in Planning and Policy from the University of Ibadan. Currently, she serves as the Acting Director of Online and Distance Education. Her areas of interest include graduate employability, skill acquisition, and innovation in education.

Olayinka Babayemi Makinde , Adeleke University, Nigeria

Olayinka Babayemi MAKINDE is a lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Science, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria, and the current Assistant Director of General Education Studies. He received a PhD in Information Science from the University of South Africa. His research interests include information sciences and library and information science education.

Segun O. Adedeji, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Segun Olugbenga Adedeji is a Professor of Education at the University of Ibadan, in Oyo State, Nigeria. He is an experienced academician with numerous publications in various areas of education, specializing in the economics of education.

How to Cite
Ogunniran, O. O., Makinde, O., & Adedeji, S. (2024). Science Curriculum Quality, Instructional Resources Adequacy and Employability Skills Acquisition Level of Potential Science Graduates in Nigerian Universities. Pan-African Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 5(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.56893/pajes2024v05i01.04

References

  1. Ademiluyi, L. W., & Isiaka, O. J. (2022). Perceived influence of instructional methods and adequacy of business education lecturers on employability skills acquisition of business education students in universities in southwestern Nigeria. Al-Hikmah Journal of Business Education, 2(1), 30-42.
  2. Adeyemi, B. A., Adeyemi, B. B., & Adeyemi, I. D. (2021). Education for employability in Nigeria: Stakeholders’ assessment of missing gaps in the current schools curricula. EAS Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies, 3(2), 97-102.
  3. Aloysius, O. I., Ismail, I. A., Suandi, T., & Arshad, M. M. (2018). Enhancing university’s and industry’s employability collaboration among Nigeria graduates in the labor market. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(7), 32-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v8-i7/4322
  4. Boud, D., Costley, C., Marshall, S., & Sutton, B. (2021). Impacts of a professional practice doctorate: A collaborative enquiry. Higher Education Research & Development, 40(3), 431-445. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1765744
  5. Button, L. (2021). The Scope of Curriculum and Development of Curriculum. Curriculum Essentials: A Journey. Pressbooks.
  6. Campbell, M., Berni, C., Caroline, R., & Judith, S. (2019). Reimagining student employability: A case study of policy and practice transformation. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 41, 500–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2019.1646379
  7. Carvalho, L., & Yeoman, P. (2018). Framing learning entanglement in innovative learning spaces: Connecting theory, design, and practice. British Educational Research Journal, 44(6), 1120–1137. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3483
  8. Chan, R. Y. (2016). Understanding the purpose of higher education: An analysis of the economic and social benefits for completing a college degree. Journal of Education Policy, Planning and Administration, 6(5), 1-40.
  9. Cheng, M., Adekola, O., Albia, J., & Cai, S. (2022). Employability in higher education: A review of key stakeholders' perspectives. Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 16(1), 16-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/HEED-03-2021-0025
  10. Chukwurah, C., & Atah, C. A. (2019). Influence of student-teacher relationship and instructional facilities on employability skills acquisition among business education students in tertiary institutions in Cross River State. British International Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 6(5), 1-9.
  11. Doyle, A. (2020). What are employability skills? Definition & examples of employability skills. Available at: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/employability-skills-list-and-examples-4143571 (accessed 16 April 2023).
  12. Fajaryati, N., & Akhyar, M. (2020). The employability skills needed to face the demands of work in the future: Systematic literature reviews. Open Engineering, 10(1), 595-603. https://doi.org/10.1515/eng-2020-0072
  13. Fahimirad, M., Nair, P. K., Kotamjani, S. S., Mahdinezhad, M., & Feng, J. B. (2019). Integration and development of employability skills into Malaysian higher education context: Review of the literature. International Journal of Higher Education, 8(6), 26–35. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v8n6p26
  14. Filazzola, A., & Cahill Jr, J. F. (2021). Replication in field ecology: Identifying challenges and proposing solutions. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 12(10), 1780-1792. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13657
  15. Gbadamosi, V. T. (2021). University of Ibadan undergraduates’ level of employability skills. Humanity & Social Sciences Journal, 16(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.hssj.2021.01.09
  16. Gedye, S., & Beaumont, E. (2018). The ability to get a job: Student understandings and definitions of employability. Education and Training, 60(5), 406-420. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-10-2017-0159
  17. George, W. K., Ikpe, S. A., & Udom, N. A. (2022). Assessment of technical education undergraduate students’ employability skills in colleges of education in Nigeria. Universal Scientific Bulletin (USB), 5(1), 109-122.
  18. Igbokwe-Ibeto, C. J., Agbodike, F. C., & Osakede, K. O. (2018). Entrepreneurial curriculum in African universities: A panacea to graduates’ unemployment if? Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review, 6(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v6i1.222
  19. Igwe, P. A., Lock, D., & Rugara, D. G. (2022). What factors determine the development of employability skills in Nigerian higher education? Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 59(3), 337-348. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2020.1850319
  20. Kayode, D. J., Yusoff, N. B., & Veloo, A. (2015). Relationship between the curriculum and attributes of Nigerian faculty of education graduates towards teaching in Kwara State, Nigeria. African Higher Education Review (AHER), 9(1&2), 18-26.
  21. Kenayathulla, H. B., Ahmad, N. A., & Idris, A. R. (2019). Gaps between competence and importance of employability skills: Evidence from Malaysia. Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 13(2), 97–112. https://doi.org/10.1108/HEED-08-2019-0039
  22. Köper, I., Young, J., Hunter, N., Tan, L. F., & Barker, J. (2022, September). Increasing employability in Science graduates through longitudinal course design. In Proceedings of the Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (pp. 42-42).
  23. Kosgei, K. K. (2015). Assessment of the influence of school-based factors on the implementation of alternative ‘B’ mathematics curriculum in secondary schools in Koricho County. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 4(21), 29-35.
  24. Lindgren, R., & DeLiema, D. (2022). Viewpoint, embodiment, and roles in STEM learning technologies. Educational Technology Research and Development, 70(3), 1009-1034. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-022-10101-3
  25. Lipnevich, A. A., Berg, D. A., & Smith, J. K. (2016). Toward a model of student response to feedback. In Handbook of human and social conditions in assessment (pp. 169-185). Routledge.
  26. Mawson, M., & Haworth, A. C. (2018). Supporting the employability agenda in university libraries: A case study from the University of Sheffield. Information and Learning Science. 119(1/2), 101-108. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-04-2017-0027
  27. Mezhoudi, N., Alghamdi, R., Aljunaid, R., Krichna, G., & Düştegör, D. (2023). Employability prediction: A survey of current approaches, research challenges and applications. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing, 14, 1489–1505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-021-03276-9
  28. Mtawa, N., Fongwa, S., & Wilson-Strydom, M. (2021). Enhancing graduate employability attributes and capabilities formation: A service-learning approach. Teaching in Higher Education, 26(5), 679–695. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2019.1672150
  29. Nwajiuba, C. A., Igwe, P. A., Akinsola-Obatolu, A. D., Icha-Ituma, A., & Binuomote, M. O. (2020). What can be done to improve higher education quality and graduate employability in Nigeria? A stakeholder approach. Industry and Higher Education, 34(5), 358–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422219901102
  30. Nicol, D. (2021). The power of internal feedback: Exploiting natural comparison processes. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 46(5), 756–778. doi:10.1080/ 02602938.2020.1823314
  31. Ogwunte, P. C., & Okolocha, C. C. (2016). Strategies considered effective by business teachers in South-South, Nigeria for teaching new business subjects in secondary schools. International Journal of Innovative Education Research, 4(2), 60-70.
  32. Okolie, U. C., Igwe, P. A., Nwosu, H. E., Eneje, B. C., & Mlanga, S. (2020). Enhancing graduate employability: Why do higher education institutions have problems with teaching generic skills? Policy Futures in Education, 18(2), 294-313. https://doi.org/10.1177/1478210319864824
  33. Okolie, U. C., Nwajiuba, C. A., Eneje, B., Binuomote, M. O., Ehiobuche, C., & Hack-Polay, D. (2021). A critical perspective on industry involvement in higher education learning: Enhancing graduates’ knowledge and skills for job creation in Nigeria. Industry and Higher Education, 35(1), 61-72. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422220919655
  34. Okonkwo, I. G. A., & Samuel, N. N. C. (2022). Chemistry education and acquisition of employability and production skills: A case study. Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies, 11(1), 116-128.
  35. Okunuga, R. O., & Ajeyalemi, D. (2018). Relationship between knowledge and skills in the Nigerian undergraduate chemistry curriculum and graduate employability in chemical-based industries. Industry and Higher Education, 32(3), 183–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422218766913
  36. Oludeyi, O. S. (2022). Soft skills and didactic pathways in Nigeria university education: Implication for graduate employability. International Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS), 12(1), 1-9.
  37. OECD. (2018). Education at a glance 2018: OECD Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1787/19991487
  38. Panadero, E., Broadbent, J., Boud, D., & Lodge, J. M. (2019). Using formative assessment to influence self- and co-regulated learning: The role of evaluative judgement. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 34(3), 535–557. doi:10.1007/s10212-018-0407-8
  39. Pereira, E. T., Madalena, V., & Catia, F. C. (2020). University curricula and employability: The stakeholders’ views for a future agenda. Industry & Higher Education, 34, 321–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422220901676
  40. Pitan, O. S. (2017). Graduate employees’ generic skills and training needs. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 7(3), 290–303. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-04-2017-0026
  41. Pitan, O. S., & Atiku, S. O. (2017). Structural determinants of students’ employability: Influence of career guidance activities. South African Journal of Education, 37(4), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v37n4a1424
  42. Romgens, I., Scoupe, R., & Beausaert, S. (2020). Unravelling the concept of employability, bringing together research on employability in higher education and the workplace. Studies in Higher Education, 45(12), 2588–2603. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1623770
  43. Succi, C., & Canovi, M. (2020). Soft skills to enhance graduate employability: Comparing students and employers’ perceptions. Studies in Higher Education, 45(9), 1834–1847. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1585420
  44. Sule, M. A., Odigwe, F. N., Okpa, O. E., Essien, E. S., & Ushie, M. I. (2020). Institutional variables and student's employability skills development in public universities in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Nigeria. International Education Studies, 13(11), 33-43. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v13n11p33
  45. Suleman, F. (2018). The employability skills of higher education graduates: Insights into conceptual frameworks and methodological options. Higher Education, 76, 263–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-017-0207-0
  46. Stabback, P. (2016). What makes a quality curriculum? In-Progress Reflection No. 2 on “Current and Critical Issues in Curriculum and Learning”. UNESCO International Bureau of Education.
  47. Tran, T. T. (2016). Enhancing graduate employability and the need for university-enterprise collaboration. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 7(1), 58-71.
  48. Wagaskar, K., Tripathy, A. K., Chauhan, K., Malaji, A., & Yadav, D. (2017). Employ ... able a tool to achieve 7e’s of employability. In International Conference on Advances in Computing, Communications and Informatics (ICACCI), 1756–1761.
  49. Yusuf, F. A., Okanlawon, A. E., & Metu, V. D. (2018). Lecturers’ perspectives on enhancing university graduates’ employability in Nigeria. Cypriot Journal of Educational Science, 13(3), 400-407.