Are they ready yet: Architecture Graduates Employability Skills from Employers' Perspective

Abstract

This paper reports on a study exploring the perspective of employers on architecture graduates’ employability skills during their employment. The study employed a survey research methodological approach. A total of 85 employers completed the survey. The findings of the study revealed that among the four employability skills dimensions measured, the communication skills dimension was scored highest, (M = 3.69, SD = 0.78), this was followed by career-related and teamwork skills (CTW) (M=3.64, SD=0.732), technical skills dimension (TECH) (M=3.52, SD=0.79) and the lowest total mean (M=3.41, SD=0.84) was reported for critical thinking skills (CT). The study elucidates that employer value graduates’ communication skills; however, they expected the graduates to demonstrate a range of other essential skills that include critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership and profession-related skills such as construction and structure that is essential to develop and build their design. Consequently, the study suggests for the HEI to unlock the existing curriculum, adopt the work-based learning (WBL) approach which allows greater partnership with employers and exposure to the real-life project, to develop the essential employability skills that employers value.