UNDERSTANDING GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY IN MALAYSIAN HIGHER EDUCATION: IMPLICATIONS OF CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE ACROSS DISCIPLINES

Abstract

This study examines patterns of convergence and divergence in graduate employability among final-year undergraduate students in Malaysian private higher education institutions. Drawing on the CareerEDGE model, Self-Efficacy Theory, and the concept of self-perceived employability (SPE), the study adopts a quantitative, cross-sectional design involving 446 students who had completed internships. Data were analysed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and independent-samples t-tests to assess differences across disciplines and gender. The results show consistent trend of convergence in employability skills and self-efficacy across all academic disciplines, suggesting that students develop comparable levels of competence and confidence regardless of their area of study. Likewise, no notable gender disparities were detected, indicating uniform advancement of employability-related outcomes. Divergence was seen in self-perceived employability, with notable disparities among disciplines, underscoring the impact of contextual and perceptual factors on students’ appraisal of their employability. The study enhances the scientific literature by introducing a convergence-divergence viewpoint, illustrating that although employability capacities may be standardised by institutional procedures, perceptions of employability are nevertheless susceptible to disciplinary contexts. The findings provide important implications for curriculum design, career support services, and policy development in higher education.