ISSN: 2226-3624
Open access
With the swift changes in the economy, globalization and the advancement of technology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the issue of graduate employability has emerged as a key concern of higher education institutions, employers and policy makers. In today's increasingly competitive job market, graduates need not only academic skills, but also transferable skills, flexibility, communication and skills in the workplace. Yet, a large proportion of graduates remain to face problems in transitioning from education to work due to a gap between higher education outcomes and expectations of the labour market. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that improve the employability of graduates in UAE. The finding of the review paper discusses the importance of career resources and problem-based learning (PBL) in improving the employability of graduates in UAE. The paper highlights some main determinants of employability, such as career identity, human and social capital and personal adaptability, as well as perceived employability. Graduate confidence and employment prospects are also explored due to their relationship with labour market conditions. The results suggest that PBL has a positive impact on critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills which enhance graduate employment readiness. The review underscores the need to have closer alignment between higher education curricula and the expectations of the labor market to enhance employment outcomes in the UAE in the long term.
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