FOSTERING TECHNOLOGY AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION EMPLOYABILITY THROUGH INDUSTRY COLLABORATIONS
This study examined the impact of industry collaboration on skills development, employability outcomes, and institutional benefits in Technology and Vocational Education (TVE) programmes in Ekiti and Ondo States, Nigeria. Despite the recognized role of TVE in producing skilled workers, persistent challenges such as outdated equipment, limited practical training, and weak industry alignment result in graduates who lack job readiness amid high unemployment rates. A quantitative survey design was employed with a sample of 200 respondents (150 students and 50 industry professionals). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on a 4-point Likert scale (Strongly Agree = 4 to Strongly Disagree = 1; cut-off mean = 3.00). To ensure the instrument’s quality, face and content validity were established. Three experts in TVET and educational research reviewed the questionnaire for clarity, relevance, appropriateness of items, and alignment with the research objectives and constructs (industry collaboration, skills development, employability, and institutional benefits). Reliability was assessed through internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the instrument was 0.82, indicating good reliability (acceptable threshold in social science and educational research is typically ≥ 0.70, with values ≥ 0.80 considered strong for attitudinal scales). Subscale alphas (for the three main sections) ranged from 0.78 to 0.85, further confirming consistent measurement across items. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies) and simple linear regression were used for analysis. Findings revealed significant positive effects of industry collaboration. For skills development, pre-collaboration items had low means (2.45–2.55, Disagree), while post-collaboration items showed high means (4.15–4.25, Agree), with grand mean 3.35 (SD = 1.00). Employability outcomes improved markedly (grand mean 3.65, SD = 0.90), with post-collaboration means 4.45–4.55. Institutional outcomes recorded the highest grand mean (4.32, SD = 0.79). Regression results confirmed strong predictive effects: skills development (B = 1.70, t = 5.67, p < 0.001, R² = 0.140), employability (B = 1.80, t = 7.20, p < 0.001, R² = 0.207), and institutional outcomes (B = 1.60, t = 5.71, p < 0.001, R² = 0.141). The study concludes that structured industry partnerships enhance practical competence, job readiness, and institutional capacity in TVE. Recommendations include expanding internships, curriculum co-design with industry, and policy support for sustainable collaborations to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap and boost graduate employability.
Keywords: Industry collaboration, Skills development, Graduate employability, TVET.
