Preparing University Students of English Department for the Kosovo Labor Market: A Case Study Conducted at the University of Prishtina

Preparing University Students of English Department for the Kosovo Labor Market: A Case Study Conducted at the University of Prishtina

MSc. Merita Hyseni
South East European University, North Macedonia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2023.10601
Received: 04 June 2023; Revised: 14 June 2023; Accepted: 19 June 2023; Published: 30 June 2023

Abstract: – This research aims to examine whether graduates of English Department and Literature in Faculty of Philology at University of Prishtina are prepared to enter the labor market and if their higher education preparation meets the requirements of employment. Moreover, this study will try to analyze if there are job skills built and implemented specifically in this department, and what skills are students mostly being taught in this institution. This paper analyzes and interprets the results, by backing up the arguments with factual sources to answer the two broad questions of the study. The findings reveal that while there is a certain level of job skills implementation, particularly in teamwork, research, and critical-thinking skills, there is room for improvement and a need for greater incorporation of employability skills. Most English graduates feel sufficiently prepared for the labor market, but a minority attribute their lack of readiness to the insufficient implementation of job skills. Communication skills, practical skills, leadership skills, critical-thinking skills, and problem-solving skills were identified as areas where students desired higher implementation. The study suggests that additional preparation and training are necessary for English graduates to meet the requirements of the labor market and feel confident before entering employment.
Keywords: employability, graduate, skills, university, education, job, labor market

I. Introduction

Education is the way to a successful career which provides the opportunity to be a productive individual of a civilized society by acquiring all the necessary skills. It determines the quality of life and improves one’s knowledge and skills. Being able to enter the labor market and to have a successful career, is the key purpose of education and professional advancement. Young people attend universities and select their degrees hoping that they will be successful in their future employment (Robst, 2007) and prepared with the needed skills that are required to be part of the labor market.

One of the most important set of skills that are known to be highly needed and required for employment are job skills. Students throughout their education should be provided with job skills in order for them to be prepared for the enrollment and other job selection processes which are set up by employers (Greenbank, 2014). Considering the benefits of job skills acquisition, the implementation of them in education is a necessity. Employers are seeking for job skills as, time-management, self-understanding, teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making skills, working with diversity, risk assessment management, practical skills etc., (Weligamage & Seingthai, 2003) so are higher institutions actually providing graduates with these skills?!

This research will analyze the implementation of job skills in English Department and Literature in Faculty of Philology – University of Prishtina and two other branch locations in University of Prizren and University of Gjakova which have the English Departments as part of their studying programs. The current study will try to answer two broad research questions, how prepared are English Department graduates to enter the labor market and which job skills, if any, are being taught and implemented in this institution.
English Language and Literature Program in University of Prishtina is considered the leader in Kosovo and a program from which also private colleges of our country get the ideas of their programs and the overall curricula. As a result, if the implementation of job skills in this university may or may not be appropriate, the same issues could affect also private colleges.

Based on personal experiences, in English Department and Literature in UP, there is a lack of students’ preparation to enter the labor market and a research is needed to examine this important issue furthermore. The graduates of English Department, as the participants of this survey, will be the target group chosen for this study and with their help the information that is conducted will be presented in the research.

It is hypothesized that there is a lack of students’ job skills preparation to enter the labor market in English and Literature Department in University of Prishtina and that the English graduates in English Department in UP need extra preparation and trainings to fulfill

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