Developing Professional Networks: The Missing Link to Graduate Employability

Autor/inn/en	English, Peter; de Villiers Scheepers, Margarietha Johanna; Fleischman, David; Burgess, Jacqueline; Crimmins, Gail
Titel	Developing Professional Networks: The Missing Link to Graduate Employability
Quelle	In: Education & Training, 63 (2021) 4, S.647-661 (15 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (English, Peter) ORCID (de Villiers Scheepers, Margarietha Johanna) ORCID (Burgess, Jacqueline)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0040-0912
DOI	10.1108/ET-10-2020-0309
Schlagwörter	Social Networks; Social Capital; Employment Potential; College Graduates; Alumni; Social Media; Student Volunteers; Internship Programs; Work Experience; Teacher Student Relationship; Peer Relationship; Professional Identity; Business Administration Education; Art Education; Foreign Countries; Australia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Social network; Soziales Netzwerk; Sozialkapital; Arbeitsmarktbezogene Qualifikation; Beschäftigungsfähigkeit; Hochschulabsolvent; Hochschulabsolventin; Soziale Medien; Berufspraktische Ausbildung; Employment experience; Job experience; Occupational experience; Berufserfahrung; Teacher student relationships; Lehrer-Schüler-Beziehung; Peer-Beziehungen; Arts; Education; Art in Education; Kunst; Bildung; Erziehung; Ausland; Australien
Abstract	Purpose: Responding to increasing external pressure, universities are developing new strategies to illustrate the impact of their degrees on graduate employability. This paper investigates how alumni regard the development of their professional networks during their tertiary education in relation to employability and the associated pedagogical implications. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 18 business and arts alumni from a regional university. Findings: The findings reveal the importance of developing a professional network by cultivating social capital while at university. Alumni identify all forms of work-integrated learning (WIL), connectedness through social media, the role of university staff and volunteering as concrete ways to develop a professional network and enhance employability. Research limitations/implications: This paper has pedagogical implications to develop graduate employability and WIL. Universities should draw from alumni networks to help develop students' bridging capital through industry-facing WIL projects. Educators should design assessment tasks in which students develop contacts and networking capabilities with alumni and other professionals using various platforms (e.g. social media). In addition, educators should promote the benefits of voluntary work and invite alumni and other industry stakeholders to co-design and co-teach areas of curriculum. Originality/value: Drawing from the experiences of alumni re-routes the channel of communication from institutions expressing the importance of professional networks in relation to employability, to credible industry alumni confirming this importance. Few previous studies have taken this "outside-in approach" to emphasise and validate the importance of developing professional networks in relation to employability, particularly at regional universities. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01