Crises-sensitive educational planning in the digital age and students acquisition of employability skills in the University of Yaounde I.

Abstract

This study examines the effects of crisis-sensitive educational planning on graduate’s employability skills. The problem of this study emanated from the observed lack of employability skills by graduates complicated by the heat of COVID 19 pandemic. The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of crises-sensitive educational planning on graduates’ acquisition of employability skills. The main research question raised: how does crises-sensitive educational planning influence graduates’ acquisition employability skills? and the main hypothesis was; Ha: There is a relationship between crisis-sensitive educational planning and graduates’ acquisition of employability skills. Five main theories were adopted for this study; the Interactive planning model by Russell (2001), the human capital theory by Becker (1974), the Curriculum theory by MacDonald (1971) the Connectivism theory by Siemens (2004) Hollland's Vocational theory by Holland (1985). This study employs the descriptive survey design. The simple accidental sampling techniques was adopted and the data was collected using the structured questionnaire. The Krejcie and Morgan table was used to get a sample size of 147 participants. The data was analysis via SPSS V, 23 using the spearman’s correlation coefficient and presented in frequencies and percentages. Findings revealed that on RHa1, Ha was retained, based on spearman’s correlation value r = 0.573, the level of significance is 0.000 less than 0.05, (alpha) which is the standard error margin: r = 0.515, P= 0.000 ≤ 0,05. RH2: Ha was retained spearman’s correlation value r = 0.474, the level of significance 0.000 less than 0.05, (alpha) which is the standard error margin: r = 0.474, P= 0.000 ≤ 0,05. RH3: Ha was retained, due to the spearman’s correlation value r = 0.403, the level of significance is 0.000 which is largely less than 0.05, (alpha) which is the standard error margin: r = 0.403, P= 0.000 ≤ 0,05. Based on the findings, we therefore recommend that; the University of Yaounde I should embrace digital technology, forecast and identify the areas of curriculum that can be left out in case of a crises. And train teachers on online teaching methods. Graduates are called upon to take more skill-based specific short courses in order to improve on their skill sets and employability.