Studying the Alignment between University Education and Labour Market Needs: Focusing on Technology Graduates' Employability in Sri Lanka.

Abstract

The employment market is evolving and offers graduates opportunities, yet poses challenges as well. To operate any job market efficiently, satisfying job providers and job seekers are essential. It will be mostly determined by the suitability of employment in terms of both the quality of the candidate and the work position's requirements. This concept paper outlines how the planned study examines the employment suitability of graduates with an emphasis on Sri Lanka technology graduates. The case study approaches will be followed using the technology graduates of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka by assessing the theoretical framework of expectancy theory. The findings offer significant insights into the opportunities and challenges that are faced by the technology graduates. The findings of the study aim to understand the demand for technology graduates in the job market and necessary skills to be aquired by technology graduates. Difficulties that Sri Lankan policymakers and educators experience in matching technology education with labour market demands are highlighted in this study. The recommendations provided in this study aim to bridge the gap that exists between market demands and academic standards. Future research need to address the limitation of this study focusing on a single university and faculty by gathering data from other universities in various fields of study.