Exploring social science degree programmes’ effectiveness on skills development and graduate employability in Zambia

Abstract

This study explored the extent to which social science degree programmes are effective in promoting skills development and graduate employability in Zambia. The research adopted the convergent parallel mixed-methods design to collect quantitative and qualitative data through the use of structured questionnaires, interview guides and document analysis. The triangulation of both quantitative and qualitative data enhanced the reliability and validity of the findings. A total of 162 participants participated in the study. The study sample comprised 120 university students, 22 employers or their representatives, 12 lecturers, and 8 key informants. Both the probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS Version 22 to generate descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed using ATLAS.ti Version 8 to generate themes. The research revealed that for graduates to be employable and carry a graduate identity, they need to possess a mix of employability skills. The study found that the majority of graduates from social sciences were not work-ready at the time of joining their organisations. Employers were less satisfied with their demonstration of employability skills. The study also found that student internships were less effective in promoting skills development due to the manner in which they were being conducted. Furthermore, the findings revealed that university departments offering social science programmes had weak and scant partnerships with the labour industry. The study concluded that, to a varying extent, the four social science degree programmes were less effective in promoting skills acquisition and employability amongst graduating students. Based on the findings, the study recommends among other things the need to strengthen partnerships between universities and the labour industry through specific laws and policies by embracing the interdisciplinary approach and broadening the assessment of employability skills in social sciences. Finally, the study proposes a model framework to reinforce the relevance of social science degree programmes in promoting graduate employability in Zambia

Thodisiso heyi yo wanulusa nḓila ine mbekanyamushumo dza digirii dza saintsi dza matshilisano dza shuma ngayo kha u tutuwedza mveledziso ya zwikili na u ita uri mutelwadigirii a wane mishumo Zambia. Ngudo yo shumisa ngona dzo tanganelaho dza khwanthithathivi na khwalithethivi kha vhuimo vhu fanaho ha kuitele kwa thodisiso kha u kuvhanganya data hu tshi khou shumiswa mbudzisambekanywa, nyendedzi dza inthaviwu na u saukanya manwalwa. U shumisa ngona dzo vhalaho dza zwiko zwa data dza vhuvhili hazwo khwanthithathivi na khwanthethivi zwi khwinisa u fulufhelwa na u khwathisedzwa ha mawanwa a ngudo. U shela mulenzhe ha vhadzheneli vha tshivhalo tsho fhelelaho tsha 162 vho shelaho mulenzhe kha ngudo. Tsumbonanguludzwa dza ngudo dzo bveledzwa nga matshudeni a yunivesithi a 120, vhatholi vha 22 kana vhaimeleli vhavho, malekitshara a 12, na vhanetshedzi vhahulwane vha mafhungo vha 8. Vhuvhili ha tekiniki ya tsumbonanguludzwa dzine dza nangwa u bva kha vhathu vhanzhi na tsumbonanguludzwa dzine dza nangwa ho sedzwa vhukoni dzo shumiswa u nanga vhadzheneli vha ngudo. Data ya khwanthithathivi yo saukanya hu tshi shumiswa SPSS Vesheni ya 22 u bveledza ṱhalutshedzo ya zwitatisitika, nge no data ya khwalithethivi yo saukanya hu tshi shumiswa ATLAS.ti Vesheni ya 8 u bveledza thero. Thodisiso yo wanulusa uri vhatelwadigirii vha wane mishumo na u tholea, vha fanela u vha na zwikili zwo tanganelaho zwa u wana mishumo. Ngudo yo wanulusa uri vhunzhi ha vhatelwadigirii u bva kha saintsi dza matshilisano vho vha vha sa athu u dilugisela mishumo nga tshifhinga tsha u dzhoina zwiimiswa zwavho. Vhatholi vho vha vho fushea zwituku kha kusumbedzele kwavho kwa zwikili zwa u wana mishumo. Ngudo dzo dovha dza wanulusa uri vhugudelamushumo ha matshudeni ho shuma mishumo muṱuku kha u tutuwedza mveledziso ya zwikili zwo itiswa nga ndila ye zwa vha zwi tshi khou tshimbidziswa zwone. U isa phanda nga u ralo, mawanwa o wanulusa uri mihasho ya yunivesithi ine ya netshedza mbekanyamushumo ya saintsi dza matshilisano i na tshumisano thukhu i songo khwathaho na ndowetshumo ya mushumo. Ngudo yo pendela ngauri, u ya nga u fhambana, mbekanyamushumo dza digirii nna dza saintsi ya matshilisano yo shuma zwituku kha u tutuwedza u wana zwikili na u wana mushumo vhukati ha matshudeni vho telwaho digirii. Zwo disendeka nga mawanwa, thodisiso yo themendela vhukati ha zwinzhi thodea ya u khwathisedza tshumisano vhukati ha dziyunivesithi na ndowetshumo ya mishumo nga mbekanyamaitele na milayo yo tiwaho nga u ṱanganedza maitele manzhi na u engedza ndingo dza zwikili zwa u wana mishumo kha saintsi dza matshilisano. Tsha u fhedzisela, thodisiso yo dzinginya furemiweke ya tshiedza u khwathisedza u tea ha mbekanyamushumo dza digirii dza saintsi dza matshilisano u tutuwedza u wana mishumo kha vhatelwadigirii ngei Zambia.

Thutopatlisiso eno e tlhotlhomisitse gore mananeo a dikirii ya saense ya loago a kgona go le kana kang go tsweletsa tlhabololo ya bokgoni le go kgona go thapega ga dialogane kwa Zambia. Patlisiso e dirisitse melebo e e kopantsweng mme e bapisiwa go kokoanya data e e lebelelang dipalopalo le e e lebelelang mabaka ka tiriso ya dipampiripotsolotso tse di rulaganeng, dikaedi tsa dipotsolotso le tokololo ya dikwalo. Tokololo ya data e e lebelelang dipalopalo le e e lebelelang mabaka e tokafaditse go ikanyega le bonnete jwa diphitlhelelo. Banni le seabe ba palogotlhe ya 162 ba nnile le seabe mo thutopatlisisong. Sampole ya thutopatlisiso e ne e na le baithuti ba yunibesithi ba le 120, bathapi ba le 22 gongwe baemedi ba bona, batlhatlheledi ba le 12 le basedimosi ba botlhokwa ba le 8. Go dirisitswe dithekeniki tsa go tlhopha sampole kwa ntle ga thulaganyo le e e farologanang le eo mmogo go tlhopha banni le seabe ba thutopatlisiso. Go lokolotswe data e e dirisang dipalopalo go dirisiwa SPSS Version 22 go tlhagisa dipalopalo tse di tlhalosang, fa data e e lebelelang mabaka yona e lokolotswe go dirisiwa ATLAS.ti Version 8 go tlhagisa merero. Patlisiso e senotse gore go re dialogane di kgone go thapega le go nna le boitshupo jwa boalogane, di tlhoka go nna le bokgoni jo bo farologaneng jwa go kgona go thapega. Thutopatlisiso e fitlhetse gore dialogane go tswa kwa disaenseng tsa loago di ne di sa siamela tiro ka nako e di neng di tsena mo ditheong tsa tsona. Bathapi ba ne ba sa kgotsofadiwa ke ka moo ba bontshang bokgoni jwa bona jwa go thapega ka gona. Gape thutopatlisiso e fitlhetse gore go ithutela mo tirong ga baithuti ga go na bokgoni jwa go tsweletsa tlhabololo ya bokgoni ka ntlha ya tsela e go dirwang ka gona. Mo godimo ga moo, diphitlhelelo di senotse gore mafapha a diyunibesithi a a tlamelang ka mananeo a saense ya loago a na le dilekane tse di bokoa le tse di sa lekanang le indaseteri ya badiri. Thutopatlisiso e konoseditse gore, le fa go sa lekalekane, mananeo a le mane a dikirii ya saense ya loago a ne a se bokgoni mo go kalo go tsweletsa go bona bokgoni le go kgona go thapega mo baithuting ba ba alogang. Go ikaegilwe ka diphitlhelelo, thutopatlisiso e atlenegisa gareng ga tse dingwe, tlhokego ya go maatlafatsa selekane magareng ga diyunibesithi le indaseteri ya badiri ka melao e e rileng le dipholisi ka go amogela molebo o o akaretsang maphata a a farologaneng le go atolosa tlhatlhobo ya bokgoni jwa go thapega mo disaenseng tsa loago. Kwa bokhutlong, thutopatlisiso e tshitshinya letlhomeso la sekao go tiisa bomaleba jwa mananeo a dikirii ya saense ya loago go tsweletsa go kgona go thapega ga dialogane kwa Zambia.