Stuck between a rock and a hard place: The challenge of preparing graduates for their futures

ABSTRACT

An accepted role of universities is to prepare students for their careers and lives. However, what should or could be taught and how, in order to better prepare students for their futures, is contested. In this study, we interviewed 18 New Zealand university teachers about their experiences of developing students’ employability capabilities within university courses. By adopting activity theory as a theoretical framework, we identified an activity system that was experienced by university teachers and multiple contradictions within the activity system. Our study showed the uncertainties and disparities in views regarding the employability capabilities students need, the limited pedagogical tools for developing employability capabilities, and the role of organisational drivers in leveraging the delivery of disciplinary knowledge and the development of employability capabilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Employability
• graduate capability
• activity theory
• university
• teaching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was co-fundedby Ako Aotearoa and University of Auckland.

Notes on contributors

Susan Geertshuis

Susan Geertshuis is Professor of Lifelong Learning within the Business School at the University of Auckland. She researches adult and higher education. She is a Principal Fellow of the HEA (Advance HE).

Qian Liu

Qian Liu is a Lecturer of Higher Education. He researches learning and teaching in higher education. He contributed to the study initially at the Business School, University of Auckland and later on in his current role at the Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago.

Narissa Lewis

Narissa Lewis is now the Organisational Development Practice Lead (Academic) at the University of Auckland. She contributed to the study while at the Business School, University of Auckland.

Jiansheng Cui

Jiansheng Cui is now a Senior Learning Designer at Auckland University of Technology. He contributed to the study while at the University of Auckland. His research interests include teacher knowledge, professional learning and development, learning design, and technology use in education.