Professionalization of higher education and employability of graduate students in the University of Yaounde 1

Abstract

The desire to ensure the socio-professional integration of students from classical faculties in higher education has always been a major concern for governments and policy makers in both developed and developing countries. In Cameroon for example, it has led to the rapid professionalization of tertiary education in state universities. The present study, therefore seeks to examine the relationship between professionalization of higher education and employability of post graduate students in the University of Yaounde 1. To achieve this objective, a mixed study was adopted based on a survey research design. The study was carried out in the university of Yaounde 1, using a random sampling technique to select a total of 309 participants from the departments of Geography, English, Theatre arts, History and Sociology in the Faculty of Arts to make up the sample population. A close-ended questionnaire was used to collect data and the data collected was analysed using the statistical data analysis technique, precisely the Pearson correlation coefficient. An interview guide was also used to collect data for lecturers. To discuss the findings of the study, two major theories were convoked, namely the human capital theory of Gary Becker and the market model university and humanities of Engell& Dangerfield. The data collected and analysed led to the following results; the first hypothesis that aimed at establishing the link between curriculum and employability of students, was confirmed. The results of the second hypothesis revealed that teaching methods had an impact on the employability of students in the university of Yaounde 1. The third findings also revealed that internship has an influence on employability of students and the fourth hypothesis was also confined revealing an impact of entrepreneurship education on the employability of students in the university of Yaounde 1. Basing on these findings, a number of recommendations were formulated and directed towards the government and other university authorities, among which included the revision and refinement of the university curriculum to match the exigencies of the job market, reinforcement of modern teaching methods such as student centred learning and the competence based approach, sending students on Internship on regular basis and reinforcing entrepreneurial courses in order to render the students autonomous. This study opened way for further research such as a quantitative study on professionalization and employability. In the course of the study, the researcher faced some problems such as accessibility of participants and availability of documentation.