Employability in higher education: a review of key stakeholders’ perspectives in Morocco

Authors

  • Sara EL AIDA Moroccan American Studies Laboratory (MAS), Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, University Hassan II, Ben M’Sik, Casablanca
  • Abdelkader SABIL Moroccan American Studies Laboratory (MAS), Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, University Hassan II, Ben M’Sik, Casablanca

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34874/IMIST.PRSM/jpm-v1i1.35595

Keywords:

Employability, Higher Education, Graduate, Stakeholder, Perspectives

Abstract

In Morocco, employability has become an important concept given its relationship with higher education. Unemployment rate is increasing especially among graduates. It has become essential to differentiate employability and employment as it is commonly thought that the university from which graduates obtained their diplomas is the most important factor determining - their employability.

This paper aims to provide an understanding of employability in the context of the Moroccan job market. It also tries to explore the current state of knowledge on graduates’ employability, the difference between employment and employability, different stakeholders’ perspectives on graduates’ employability: the university, government, graduates, and employers. To do so, this paper adopts an exploratory approach as a methodology.  It will review papers from the old and recent literature on graduate employability; and will highlight the main issues tackled by researchers. It will shed light as well on the current employment and unemployment statuses in Morocco and, finally, it will identify the needs of the Moroccan job market, university stakeholders and employers. This paper will also recommend future research perspectives in the field.

Most recent findings suggest that implementing employability skills within the curricula of higher education institutes can boost future graduates’ employment prospects. Students/undergraduates should also be aware of employability skills needed to develop during their undergraduate studies. Other studies show that universities’ curricula should always open room for an evaluation of the employability skills taught so they would be in accordance with the job market needs in order to uprise students’ prospects of employment.

Author Biography

Sara EL AIDA, Moroccan American Studies Laboratory (MAS), Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, University Hassan II, Ben M’Sik, Casablanca

Razane Chroqui is a Full Professor in the National School of Applied Science of Berrechid, Hassan the First University – Morocco. She is also responsible for the dual vocational training center at Hassan the First University. She has a B.A. in Accountancy from the University of Sfax (Tunisia), a B.A. in English Studies (option: Applied Language Studies) from Hassan II University (Morocco), an M.A. in Finance from the University of Sfax (Tunisia), a University Mastere in Management Control and Information Systems from Hassan the First University (Morocco), and a Ph.D. from Reims Champagne Ardennes University (France) awarded in 2009. She has organized and participated in many international conferences. She has published many articles in scientific journals and has taught abroad (Italy, Senegal, Romania, and Mauritania). Her research area is Performance Management and its applications in different fields. She has an MA in “Moroccan American studies” in the department of English at the faculty of Ben M’sik- Hassan II University. 

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Published

07-11-2022

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Articles