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International Research Students’ Perceptions of Employability Skills in a Malaysian Research University

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Graduate Employability Across Contexts

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Abstract

Employability skills are largely conceptualized by employers and scholars and less by students, especially international research students in non-Western institutions. This chapter contributes to the literature by examining perceptions of employability skills of international research students at a Malaysian research university. The analysis of 27 semi-structured interviews reveals that students perceive employability skills, such as research, teaching, technical and project management skills as vital for their career outcomes. Soft skills, such as communication skills (both written and oral), interpersonal skills, flexibility, problem-solving and career planning, and personal attributes such as self-confidence and flexibility are necessary ingredients for the development of the skills cited. The chapter concludes that employability skills should not be assumed as a generic list of skills but as contextual skills which are desired by international research students to cater for their various employment opportunities either in their home, host or third country.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Jasvir Kaur Nachatar Singh

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  1. Jasvir Kaur Nachatar Singh
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Correspondence to Jasvir Kaur Nachatar Singh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia

    Tran Le Huu Nghia

  2. College of Education, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Binh Chi Bui

  3. La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Jasvir Kaur Nachatar Singh

  4. Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia

    Vinh N. Lu

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Singh, J.K.N. (2022). International Research Students’ Perceptions of Employability Skills in a Malaysian Research University. In: Nghia, T.L.H., Bui, B.C., Singh, J.K.N., Lu, V.N. (eds) Graduate Employability Across Contexts. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3959-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3959-4_5

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-3959-4

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