Team Details:

Principal Investigator
Dr Ajaz Ahmed
Research Associate
Glasgow University, UK

Co-PI
Dr David Palma
Lecturer in Business Analytics and Applied AI
University of Leeds, UK

Project Brief:

Pakistan faces a significant issue with low graduate employability, as data indicates that over 30% of higher education (HE) graduates were unemployed in 2022. This is a serious concern, as the country is missing out on the potential contributions of its most productive workforce. Additionally, this situation has fostered a sense of distrust and disappointment among Pakistani youth. The primary reason behind this youth unemployment crisis is the failure of higher education institutions (HEIs) to provide market-oriented and demand-driven knowledge and skills. Consequently, there is a gap between the training that youth receive from HEIs and the skills that employers seek in the job market. This research aims to identify the shortcomings in HEIs’ training of youth by examining the expectations of both students and employers regarding the knowledge and skills imparted by higher education.

Public Policy Relevance:

This research will emphasize the importance of the roles played by students and employers, the two most relevant stakeholders in higher education, who are often excluded from the planning, design, and implementation processes. The findings of this study will reveal the perceptions, preferences, and monetary valuations of skills held by students and employers. These insights will provide concrete suggestions and actionable information for HEIs, including possible curriculum reforms.