Assessing College Students’ Attributes from Employers’ Perceptions Presenter: Wan-Ching Chiou 邱婉菁 Dr. Pi-Ying Hsu 徐碧霙 June 6, 2009

Content Results IV Introduction I Suggestions VI Methodology III Conclusion V Literature Review II

Background Business executives think that a significant proportion of recent college graduates do not have the requisite skills and knowledge. (Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., 2008)

Background Graduates use just a small percentage of what they learn in college on the job. (Shivpuri & Kim, 2004)

Background Work places require the development of broad competences and contextual knowledge in stead of specialized skills aimed at fixed problem solving strategies. (Renkema, 2006)

to explore whether the curriculum which the college designs for students’ professional skills are in accord with the characteristics that employers are looking for in college students Purposes of the study

to explore whether the curriculum which the college designs for students’ professional skills are in accord with the characteristics that employers are looking for in college students

to investigate the employers’ perceptions toward the students’ performance on their employment Purposes of the study

to investigate the employers’ perceptions toward the students’ performance on their employment

Employers’ emphasis on integrative, applied learning is reflected in their recommendations to colleges and universities about how to assess student learning in college. (Hart, 2008) Literature Review

Employers’ emphasis on integrative, applied learning is reflected in their recommendations to colleges and universities about how to assess student learning in college.

(Hart, 2008)

The capability to make an engagement through which knowledge , skills and disposition are connected as a whole. (Su & Feng, 2008) Literature Review

The capability to make an engagement through which knowledge , skills and disposition are connected as a whole.

(Su & Feng, 2008)

Employers have become increasingly selective and are choosing to hire those workers who present a mix of deep technical knowledge in a given area and a set of more general or transferable skills in the areas of management , communication , and team-work . (Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, 2006) Literature Review

Employers have become increasingly selective and are choosing to hire those workers who present a mix of deep technical knowledge in a given area and a set of more general or transferable skills in the areas of management , communication , and team-work .

(Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, 2006)

Governments and employers are seeking graduates, citizens and employees with thinking skills , the ability to problem-solve and to be creative in the transformation of information and ideas. (Looney & Klenowski, 2008) Literature Review

Governments and employers are seeking graduates, citizens and employees with thinking skills , the ability to problem-solve and to be creative in the transformation of information and ideas.

(Looney & Klenowski, 2008)

Most employers indicate that college transcripts are not particularly useful in helping evaluate job applicants’ potential to succeed at their company. ( Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., 2008) Literature Review

Most employers indicate that college transcripts are not particularly useful in helping evaluate job applicants’ potential to succeed at their company.

( Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., 2008)

Methodology Employers Participant Questionnaire mandated by CYUT Instrument 27 Preliminary study

Procedure Satisfaction on students’ performance Importance of skills Employers’ Perceptions College students

Importance of the skills Satisfaction on students’ performance Foreign languages and general skills Professional skills and judgement Job quality toward the college students Particular skills toward the college students Instrument

Performance dimensions Instrument Foreign language abilities General skills Professional knowledge or judgment Working quality requirement Interpersonal skills Adaptability Employers’ suggestions Employers’ expectation

Performance dimensions

Table 1 Sample of the Questionnaire Instrument (table continues) V V V V V 5. 能轉化理論概念，進而應用到實務使用。 ○ 非常重要 ○重要 ○普通 ○不重要 ○非常不重要 4. 能設定目標，並分配各項資源以達成該目標之能力。 ○ 非常重要 ○重要 ○普通 ○不重要 ○非常不重要 3. 指導或訓練同儕 ( 或同事 ) 的能力。 ○ 非常重要 ○重要 ○普通 ○不重要 ○非常不重要 2. 對其他外語能力 ( 例如：除英語外流暢的其他外語的聽說讀寫能力 ) 。 ○ 非常重要 ○重要 ○普通 ○不重要 ○非常不重要 1. 對於組織資源的管理能力 ( 例如：預算管控、對下屬的管理等 ) 。 ○ 非常重要 ○重要 ○普通 ○不重要 ○非常不重要 八、該題目主要是考量該畢業生之特殊技能，進行 重要性 評估。

Table 1

Sample of the Questionnaire

Instrument Table 1 ( continued ) Sample of the Questionnaire V V V V V V 6. 整體來說，您對該畢業生的特殊能力之滿意度為何？ ○ 非常滿意 ○滿意 ○尚可 ○不滿意 ○非常不滿意 5. 能轉化理論概念，進而應用到實務使用。 ○ 非常滿意 ○滿意 ○尚可 ○不滿意 ○非常不滿意 4. 能設定目標，並分配各項資源以達成該目標之能力。 ○ 非常滿意 ○滿意 ○尚可 ○不滿意 ○非常不滿意 3. 指導或訓練同儕 ( 或同事 ) 的能力。 ○ 非常滿意 ○滿意 ○尚可 ○不滿意 ○非常不滿意 2. 對其他外語能力 ( 例如：除英語外流暢的其他外語的聽說讀寫能力 ) 。 ○ 非常滿意 ○滿意 ○尚可 ○不滿意 ○非常不滿意 1. 對於組織資源的管理能力 ( 例如：預算管控、對下屬的管理等 ) 。 ○ 非常滿意 ○滿意 ○尚可 ○不滿意 ○非常不滿意 九、該題目主要是考量該畢業生之特殊技能，進行 滿意度 評估。

Data Analysis Frequency percentage Rank Descriptive statistics

Table 2 Rank of the Importance on Selecting an Employee Result Dealing well with sudden or unexpected changes Possessing master degree 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 6 Possessing professional skills or relevant training Possessing bachelor degree Possessing second language skill Possessing previous working experience Possessing professional certificate Possessing relevant skills and knowledge in core study areas Rank

Table 2

Rank of the Importance on Selecting an Employee

Result Table 3 Comparison between the Importance and Satisfaction on Foreign Languages and General Skills for Employment Ability to work as a team member Critical thinking 3 3 4 10 2 7 8 6 8 9 10 9 1 5 5 3 4 2 4 9 2 5 2 1 8 7 8 6 1 1 3 x Writing communication in English Oral communication in English Reading ability in English Other second language skills Basic computer skills Advanced computer skills Processing and managing information Familiarity with required facility Ability to negotiate Quantitative reasoning Leadership Ability to listen to others Ability to serve consumers Rating the satisfaction of overall preparation in college Satisfaction Rank Importance Rank

Result Table 4 Comparison between the Importance and Satisfaction on Professional Skills and Judgment toward the College Students Ability to learn on the job Understanding on society, humanity, and culture 2 1 1 1 3 3 1 2 2 1 4 2 3 5 X X Knowledge of specific technical job skills Possessing specific career-related skills Ability to use computer software Understanding basic information related to job Rating the satisfaction of overall preparation of knowledge and comprehension ability on profession field Rating the satisfaction of overall preparation of knowledge and comprehension ability out of profession field Satisfaction Rank Importance Rank

Result Table 5 Comparison between the Importance and Satisfaction on Quality toward the College Students Positive work attitude Ability to understand and finish tasks completely Application of ethics to deal with every task and make decisions 4 6 5 5 6 3 1 3 1 2 2 3 3 5 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 x Reacting to sudden incident Solving predictable problems with new methods Understanding others’ feeling and motivation, or handling incident Completing indicant task and worthy to be trusted Self direction Possessing highly learning aspiration Taking the responsibility on the result of tasks Rating the satisfaction of overall ability of working quality Satisfaction Rank Importance Rank

Result Table 6 Comparison between the Importance and Satisfaction on Particular Skills toward the College Students Application of theoretical concept in on-the-job situation 4 5 3 1 2 1 4 5 3 2 1 x Ability to manage business resource Other foreign language skills Ability to instruct or train groups Ability to utilize resource to set and achieve the objective Rating the satisfaction of overall particular skills Satisfaction Rank Importance Rank

Conclusion Figure 1 . Percentage of rating the satisfaction of performance in workplace toward the students of CYUT

Conclusion Employers Suggestions 增加教學經驗 音樂及藝術 的培養 多與中小企業 交流以符合 工作需求 增加在校實習 機會 加強實務操作 培養溫柔敦厚 之人格 加強工作態度 及自律性

Questionnaire Need more participants to answer the questionnaire. Suggestions

Participant Maybe we can recruit the curriculum committee of college faculty to find out their perceptions toward the importance of skills on curriculum design. Suggestions

Curriculum The further studies can be conducted to explore the different perceptions between the employers and curriculum committee teachers. Suggestions

Thanks for your listening.

Thanks for your listening.