Workability elements of post-diploma students in construction technology from vocational colleges in Malaysia

Abstract

A new vocational education system through the Vocational College Standard Curriculum (KSKV) can contribute to Malaysia's transformation agenda as a high-income country. Most industries in Malaysia also need skills to complete a task without having to attend additional courses as they already have recognition from the Department of Skills Development, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia. Among the aspects covered in KSKV are academic skills, self-management skills, and team skills. However, the aspect of workability is not clearly stated in Vocational Colleges to attract students to learn skills and to attract students' interest in learning skills and improve their perspectives on employment upon graduate. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the workability skills elements for Construction Technology courses in Vocational Colleges. This study was conducted to explore the elements of skills required in the construction industry with qualitative method of document analysis and followed by semi-structured interviews with six respondents: two representatives each from instructors of Construction Technology courses in Vocational Colleges, industrial employers from government sector and industrial employers from private sectors, respectively. The study was then continued with quantitative approach of a survey using a set of questionnaires given to three respondents consisting of subject-matter experts, Construction Technology program coordinators in Vocational Colleges, and construction industry employers to confirm the elements of workability skills acquired through the previously conducted interviews. From the qualitative data analyzed, five workability domains consisting of communication skills, technology use skills, information management, selecting and analyzing skills, cultural understanding skills, and technical skills were identified and listed in the form of workability elements table in the construction industry. Qualitative data were then used to generate a validation instrument that was evaluated using kappa statistics. It is hoped that the findings of the study will be used as a guide to improve the implementation of employability skills and the teaching and learning process in Vocational Colleges in Academic and Vocational Modules