ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN SHAPING THE EMPLOYABILITY OF GRADUATES: EVIDENCE FROM KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This research paper investigated how higher education inputs can influence the employability of recent graduates. The study collected primary data through a self-administered questionnaire, which was distributed to a random sample of 580 graduates from the Swat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The collected data was analyzed using several statistical methods. Descriptive analysis was conducted to summarize and present the characteristics of the sample and the variables of interest. T-test analysis was performed to examine differences between groups, such as graduates from old and new institutions or public and private institutions. OLS regression analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between employability and employability skills, controlling for various factors such as father's occupation and years of schooling. Additionally, a logistic regression analysis was done to look at how higher education and employability factors affect the chance of finding work. The analysis's findings showed that factors related to higher education, notably the institution's age, moderated the association among employment and professional development. Overall, the statistical analyses conducted in the study provided insights into the relationships and dynamics between employability, employability skills, and higher education inputs, contributing to a better understanding of the factors affecting graduate employability in the Swat district. Moreover, the results emphasized the significance of developing employability skills during the course of graduation in influencing graduates' employability. Consequently, the study recommends that younger institutions seek guidance from older ones to strategize and enhance the employability outcomes for their graduates, considering the importance of experience in this regard.

Keywords: Employability, Higher Education Institutes, District Swat