CAREER MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY AMONG VOCATIONAL SKILLED MILITARY RETIREES

The purpose of transition skills training for military retirees are to prepare them towards their retirement plan. Ability to be employed with ease after retirement indicates that the retiree is competent in planning and implementing his plan on employment post military service.  This study aimed to gauge the effectiveness of the skills training attended by military retirees and to examine whether there is any difference in the career management competencies of the military retirees if they are  trained by different training centres and /or if they enrolled into different training areas.  A quantitative study using survey exploration was carried out on 380 low-ranking military retirees. This study used a set of questionnaire adapted from Career Competencies Indicator by Haase and Francis-Smythe (2007). The results indicated that the level of competencies among military retirees were at moderate or middle level. Further, the study revealed that there were variation in competency results obtained by retirees training in different training centres as well as in different areas of skills.  This study is hoped to be used by training centers and department of military retiree welfare to prepare for a more effective program to assist military retirees boost up their competence and confidence in acquiring skills for post retirement employment

Business, Industry and Higher Education Collaboration: A Panacea in Developing Professional Work-Ready Graduates

The purpose of this paper is to explore how institutions of higher learning, industries and businesses work together to accomplish mutual goals, intended to help shape and inform up-to-date curriculum and course design. The aim was to improve mutual understanding and exchange of ideas between the Education and business sectors that can lead to produce professional work-ready graduates. The research method was essentially qualitative case-study design method (Yin, 2003), was used. The researcher collected documents, conducted semi-structured interviews and recorded observations at the selected multinational companies and recognized institutions of higher learning. The emergent themes from the data, in form of field notes, interview scripts, audio recordings and information from documents, representing the views of both Educationists and Industrialists were analyzed. The four emergent themes as characterized by the participants views on collaborative efforts between business and Education were identified as; cooperative study programme, technical support and programme delivery, representation in the institution governing council and collaboration through shared facilities. The study represent a means of contributing quality in teaching and learning graduate employability skills, that is vital in the survival and challenge to industry to succeed in an increasingly competitive world market. This paper attempts to provide new ways of thinking as well as formal flexible commitments from business and Education in forming partnership, that enable both sectors share the needs, problems, issues, strengths and weakness of in training professional work-ready graduates. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6p51

Developing a Sustainable Practical Model of Graduate Employability for Higher Education

The purpose of this paper is to evolve a sustainable practical model of employability skills that is sure to capture relevant learning aspects of a particular occupational discipline to be used as framework for Undergraduate students to develop their employability potentials. The study was conducted in three Universities and Polytechnics each with three multi-national companies. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Using purposeful sampling 18 academic staff and 3 professionals representing company employers were selected as the study participants. The study evolved a model that is work-based, explicit in its outcome, fully articulated and realistic in terms of employability skill experiences. The proposed model can be used to establish a common higher education programme or curricula that is work-based and skill experience oriented, that can encourage students in higher education to think about work place learning more explicitly and reflectively, that will in turn help them to develop a broad range of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values, each of which ultimately contribute in some manner to graduate employability.  The paper is considered a contribution to the evolution and growth of knowledge on the linkage between higher education and workplace, through which the ‘skill gap’ occurring between the demand of employment and the level of educational preparation of graduates can be bridged.Keywords: Employability, Higher Education, Graduates, Model/Framework,   academic staff, Employers/Professional

Developing a Sustainable Practical Model of Graduate Employability for Higher Education

The purpose of this paper is to evolve a sustainable practical model of employability skills that is sure to capture relevant learning aspects of a particular occupational discipline to be used as framework for Undergraduate students to develop their employability potentials. The study was conducted in three Universities and Polytechnics each with three multi-national companies. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Using purposeful sampling 18 academic staff and 3 professionals representing company employers were selected as the study participants. The study evolved a model that is work-based, explicit in its outcome, fully articulated and realistic in terms of employability skill experiences. The proposed model can be used to establish a common higher education programme or curricula that is work-based and skill experience oriented, that can encourage students in higher education to think about work place learning more explicitly and reflectively, that will in turn help them to develop a broad range of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values, each of which ultimately contribute in some manner to graduate employability.  The paper is considered a contribution to the evolution and growth of knowledge on the linkage between higher education and workplace, through which the ‘skill gap’ occurring between the demand of employment and the level of educational preparation of graduates can be bridged. Keywords: Employability, Higher Education, Graduates, Model/Framework,   academic staff, Employers/Professional

Exploring the Misrepresentation of Nigerian Women in Technical and Vocational Education in Polytechnic Institution

Nigerian government is making frantic efforts to drive her economy by laying emphasis on technical and vocational education to enable her compete favorably in the global market. Emphasis of government is in Polytechnic education where skills for self-reliant and economic growth are a priority. However, women are not embracing this opportunity by participating in the program that will equip them with skills and contribute to national development. In all 14 female participants were purposefully selected from Polytechnic. Phenomenological methodology was adopted and data collected were transcribed and analyzed. Results from the study include math/science phobia, perceived social support, and contextual roles among reasons for misrepresentation of women in technical and vocational education. Unless women have increased access to technical and vocational education in order to build diverse technical skills their vulnerability to unemployment and poverty will be on the rise. The findings of this study will guide stakeholders to develop a framework for improving the enrollment of women in this field. Keywords: women, technical and vocational education, self-reliant and unemploymen

Exploring How Nigerian Women Foster Action to Be Taken to Involve More Women Participation in Technical and Vocational Education

Despite the documented benefits to economic and social development of women and the constitutional guarantee for equal right under the law to all citizens, the advancement of the status of women in Nigeria is still far from satisfactory. The participation of women in technical and vocational education is abysmally low. Recent literature describing education of women in technical and vocational education in Nigeria, still need more equality of access to the program. As the Nigerian transition to knowledge economy, information age and vision 20:2020 technologically literate workforce is vital. Likewise the contribution of women to technical and vocational education profession in vital, yet the number of women considering entering historically dominated profession remain at unacceptable level. Employment prospects for women have increased dramatically in the late 20th century. Yet in technical and vocational education profession, a profession that holds promise and opportunity for one to positively impact society-the lack of women in the field seems baffling. In order to examine how Nigerian women foster action to be taken to resolve misrepresentation of women in technical and vocational education in Polytechnic institution a study was important. The purpose of this study was to identify action to be taken so that more women can participate in the program from the perspective of women who are currently enrolled in technical and vocational education program in Polytechnic institution. One major Polytechnic was selected with twelve participants. The descriptive and exploratory research analyzed the interview responses of the participants in order to examine their perceptions. Recommendations made as a result of this study include: a need to formulate specific strategies, policy and program to promote women participation in technical and vocational education, women representation in policymaking bodies; increase number of women lecturers; encourage women to participate in traditionally male dominated technical and vocational fields; conduct nontraditional student support groups and peer counseling; provide nontraditional role model and give preference to female student with regards to recruitment.Keywords: women, technical and vocational education, workforce and econom

Exploring How Nigerian Women Foster Action to Be Taken to Involve More Women Participation in Technical and Vocational Education

Despite the documented benefits to economic and social development of women and the constitutional guarantee for equal right under the law to all citizens, the advancement of the status of women in Nigeria is still far from satisfactory. The participation of women in technical and vocational education is abysmally low. Recent literature describing education of women in technical and vocational education in Nigeria, still need more equality of access to the program. As the Nigerian transition to knowledge economy, information age and vision 20:2020 technologically literate workforce is vital. Likewise the contribution of women to technical and vocational education profession in vital, yet the number of women considering entering historically dominated profession remain at unacceptable level. Employment prospects for women have increased dramatically in the late 20th century. Yet in technical and vocational education profession, a profession that holds promise and opportunity for one to positively impact society-the lack of women in the field seems baffling. In order to examine how Nigerian women foster action to be taken to resolve misrepresentation of women in technical and vocational education in Polytechnic institution a study was important. The purpose of this study was to identify action to be taken so that more women can participate in the program from the perspective of women who are currently enrolled in technical and vocational education program in Polytechnic institution. One major Polytechnic was selected with twelve participants. The descriptive and exploratory research analyzed the interview responses of the participants in order to examine their perceptions. Recommendations made as a result of this study include: a need to formulate specific strategies, policy and program to promote women participation in technical and vocational education, women representation in policymaking bodies; increase number of women lecturers; encourage women to participate in traditionally male dominated technical and vocational fields; conduct nontraditional student support groups and peer counseling; provide nontraditional role model and give preference to female student with regards to recruitment. Keywords: women, technical and vocational education, workforce and econom

Exploring the Misrepresentation of Nigerian Women in Technical and Vocational Education in Polytechnic Institution

Nigerian government is making frantic efforts to drive her economy by laying emphasis on technical and vocational education to enable her compete favorably in the global market. Emphasis of government is in Polytechnic education where skills for self-reliant and economic growth are a priority. However, women are not embracing this opportunity by participating in the program that will equip them with skills and contribute to national development. In all 14 female participants were purposefully selected from Polytechnic. Phenomenological methodology was adopted and data collected were transcribed and analyzed. Results from the study include math/science phobia, perceived social support, and contextual roles among reasons for misrepresentation of women in technical and vocational education. Unless women have increased access to technical and vocational education in order to build diverse technical skills their vulnerability to unemployment and poverty will be on the rise. The findings of this study will guide stakeholders to develop a framework for improving the enrollment of women in this field.Keywords: women, technical and vocational education, self-reliant and unemploymen

Abstracts of the International Halal Science Conference 2023

This book presents the extended abstracts of the selected contributions to the International Halal Science Conference, held on 22-23 August 2023 by the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), IIUM, Malaysia in collaboration with Halalan Thayyiban Research Centre, University Islam Sultan Sharif (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam. With the increasing global interest in halal products and services, this conference is timely. Conference Title:  International Halal Science ConferenceConference Acronym: IHASC23Conference Theme: Halal Industry Sustainability Through ScienceConference Date: 22-23 August 2023Conference Venue: International Islamic University (IIUM), MalaysiaConference Organizer: International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University (IIUM), Malaysi