The Impact of Industry Partnerships on the Employability of Vocational and Technical Education Graduates in Emerging Economies: A Case Study of Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the impact of industry partnerships on the employability of vocational and technical education graduates in emerging economies using Lagos State as a case study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 289 which consisted of staff of five large organisations in Nigeria. No sample was drawn because the population was manageable. A questionnaire of thirty (30) items was developed from the literature and used for data collection. The mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the research questions while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis. Based on the findings, it was concluded that industry partnerships are essential to improving VTE graduates' employability in Nigeria because collaborations play a vital role in bridging the gap between education and work by matching job placements, practical experience, and educational outcomes with industry demands. It was therefore recommended, amongst others, that VTE curriculum planners update the curriculum to reflect current industry standards and more hands-on training.