Graduate Employability and Competence Development in Higher Education—A Systematic Literature Review Using PRISMA

Marta Abelha, Sandra Fernandes, Diana Mesquita, Filipa Seabra and Ana Teresa Ferreira-Oliveira
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Marta Abelha: CEIS20–Centre of 20th Century Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Coimbra, 3000–186 Coimbra, Portugal
Sandra Fernandes: Portucalense Institute for Human Development, Portucalense University, 4200–072 Porto, Portugal
Diana Mesquita: CIEC–Research Centre on Child Studies, University of Minho, 4710–057 Braga, Portugal
Filipa Seabra: LE@D, Open University (UAb), 1269-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Teresa Ferreira-Oliveira: CISAS, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-27

Abstract: This paper aims to develop a systematic review on graduate employability and competence development, intending to present an international perspective on the matter. It analyses the role of higher education institutions in promoting the development of competences for employability. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statement was used as a formal systematic review guideline for data collection. Data was obtained from research studies over the period 2009–2019. The analysis included a total of 69 papers from Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. Results show that Europe leads the number of publications on these topics during the past decade. One of the main issues associated with competence development and graduate employability found in the review is related to the (mis)match between university graduates’ competences and employers’ needs. Findings indicate that higher education institutions are concerned with using strategies to enhance the development of competences for graduate employability. Graduate employability and competence development around the world depend on a strong sense of innovation and collaboration practices implemented in higher education.

Keywords: employability; graduates; competences; higher education; systematic review; PRISMA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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