An Employability Skills Model for Built Environment Graduates: A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

ABSTRACT

This study presents a six-construct employability skills model for built environment graduates in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The model examines the influence of generic skills, discipline-specific skills, work-integrated learning, emotional intelligence, university-industry collaboration and 4IR knowledge on graduate employability. A mixed-method approach was employed, including the Delphi technique for qualitative analysis and a well-structured questionnaire for quantitative analysis. The findings highlight the significant impact of work-integrated learning on improved employability, while also revealing the direct influence of other exogenous variables. Notably, discipline-specific skills showed a weaker influence. This research contributes to the field by presenting a tailored employability skills model for built environment graduates, addressing the sector’s unique challenges in the 4IR era. The study also offers practical implications for stakeholders involved in employability skills development. Overall, this study provides a substantive contribution to the research area of engineering education and graduate employability in the context of 4IR. In an ever-evolving job market shaped by technological advancements, this study underscores the importance of equipping built environment graduates with a diverse set of skills and knowledge to thrive in the dynamic landscape of the 4IR.

KEYWORDS:

• Built environment
• construction education
• employability
• fourth industrial revolution
• higher education
• skills revolution

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.