In the new digital world, globalisation as well as automation have reduced the number of routine, low-skills jobs. Instead, we see a rising demand in jobs with tertiary education and a shift in an enhanced skills set that could enable organisations to seek new opportunities and product innovations. Therefore, the European Union (EU), and various national governments, emphasised on the need of digitally capable graduates to satisfy organisational needs (Bilal et al., 2017; European Union, 2015; Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, 2018; Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation SBFI, 2017). As SMEs make out a large proportion of most national economies, it is worthwhile exploring how SMEs value digital competences on behalf of potential recruits (graduates)
