Effectiveness of graduate programmes in assisting graduates to become work ready
Date
2014-01-21
Authors
Seima, Boledi Audrey
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Abstract
The purpose for this qualitative study is to evaluate the effectiveness of
graduate programmes in assisting graduates to become work ready. The
objective of the graduate programme that the research focused on was to
accelerate the development and competence of new graduates to become
value adding employees on completion of the programme.
The business case for graduate programmes is instigated and supported by the
dynamic and competitive nature of the contemporary workplace which has
resulted in a widening gap between knowledge gained through higher education
and the requirements of the workplace. A purposive sample of 16 respondents
consisting of eight graduates and eight managers were interviewed and content
analysis was carried out.
The graduate respondents included graduates from two of the latest and largest
Deloitte intake group, the group of 2007 and 2008. The manager respondents
included project managers that were involved in the management of the
graduate as learners as well as business analysts on completion of the
programme.
The key findings of the study revealed that both the managers and the
graduates believe that the Deloitte Graduate Programme (DGA) leads to work
readiness. However, both parties felt that the programme can be further
enhanced by controlling and measuring the on-the job experience that the
leaners get exposed to, to ensure that meaningful learning can be guaranteed
for all graduates. The respondents also felt that the design of the qualification
can be changed to become more flexible to cater for the different career path
interests of the various graduates. The qualification is an Enterprise Resource
Planning (ERP) qualification even though most learners do not join the
programme to follow the ERP career path. As a result some leaners and
managers regards those modules a waste of their time as they are not relevant
to the graduates career interests. The results of this study confirm that graduate
programmes have a key role to play in closing the gap between higher learning
and the workplace if designed and managed appropriately
Description
MBA thesis
Keywords
Graduate students, Graduate programmes