Reforming higher education for graduate employability in Nigeria
Policy direction for industrial–institutional collaboration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/hrmf4b38Keywords:
Graduate employability, higher education, industrial-institution collaboration, policy reform, skill development, Sen Bourdieu analytical frameworkAbstract
Nigeria’s persistent graduate unemployment and skills mismatch underscore the urgent need to reform higher education to better align with labor market demands. This study explores policy directions to strengthening industrial–institutional collaboration as a pathway to improving graduate employability. Guided by the Sen–Bourdieu Analytical Framework and a critical structural philosophy, it adopts a qualitative research design involving semi-structured interviews with students from three tertiary institutions in Lagos State and analysis of key education policy documents. Findings reveal three interlinked challenges: weak and short-term industry partnerships, outdated and theory-heavy curricula with limited practical exposure, and fragmented policy implementation arising from poor coordination and underfunding. The study recommends the establishment of Industry Skills Councils, expansion of internship schemes, and fiscal incentives for industry engagement, alongside the upgrading of polytechnics to degree-awarding status.
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