Why work-based learning exposure is vital to graduates?

GRADUATES with technical skills by current industry standards are easier to position themselves in a sector of the workforce that is now seeing fierce competition, human resources experts say. However, there are graduates who enters the industry with major skill gaps and not equipped with the demands for 21st century jobs. Employers found it challenging to fill vacancies with suitable candidates as a result. Why can't employers locate competent workers? Do the students lack of the capabilities that the industry requires? A significant part of the issue is that candidates lack the soft skills (such as teamwork, communication, organisation, creativity, adaptability, and timeliness) necessary to carry out those vacant positions.

This is because much more stress was laid on only theoretical knowledge in the curriculum without any emphasis on practical learning. But today, this idea has undergone a full transformation. Nowadays, graduates have a variety of employment options in a variety of disciplines, therefore it's necessary for them to get some industrial experience before beginning their careers. Students are exposed to the technical and soft skills needed for a successful career through industrial exposure. They learn better methods for communicating across verticals and how to do so more successfully. It provides students with the skills they need to identify, define, frame, and address problems. Students whom partner with many firms frequently acquire good job profiles in a variety of industries. They tend to have the chance to interact with professionals from the business world and learn about their habits and methods for approaching problems. Since the theoretical method had limited the students from experiencing reality, industrial training enables them to get first hand exposure to industrial activities as well as observe how any company or organisation operates. Industrial experience helps students apply their technical skills in a practical setting by bridging the gap between theoretical instruction and practical learning.

Through work-based learning, the major issue of graduate’s unemployment could be resolved. An Associate Professor Dr. Md.Fauzi Ahmad & Professor Dr. Abdul Talib Bon has stated in their article that the Academy in Factory Programme which was recently informed by the Minister of Economy will be implemented to provide training opportunities to more than 100,000 youths who conduct training while working in the industry and hiring them.

Besides, Chief Executive Officer of GKK Consultants Sdn Bhd Dr Gajendra Balasingham said this will enable those with expertise and knowledge in business and education to have high marketability. "It is especially so when the company wants a workforce that is able to work without the need for much supervision starting from the first day of work," he told at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GKK and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) recently. Thus, Work-Based Learning is crucial for the student’s career and self-development.

Ms Kanchana Kannan

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Batu Pahat