Effects of Graphic Design Skills on the Employability of Business Education Students in Nigerian Colleges of Education

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of graphic design skills on the employability of business education students in Nigerian colleges of education. Employing a true experimental pre-test and post-test with a within-subjects design, the study involved 40 randomly selected students from the Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi. Baseline assessments were conducted to measure the participants’ graphic design competencies and perceptions of employability. The intervention consisted of a six-week Canva-based training program focused on designing flyers and invitation cards. Internal validity was ensured through randomization, control of confounding variables, and consistent implementation procedures, while external validity was strengthened through representative sampling, real-world application, and potential for replication. Data were collected through structured surveys and analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests. The findings revealed statistically significant improvements in both graphic design skills and employability perceptions following the intervention. Consequently, the null hypotheses were rejected, affirming that graphic design training positively influences employability. Notable challenges included limited access to Canva tools, difficulties in balancing academic workload, and potential threats to validity arising from the study’s unique context. The study recommends the integration of graphic design competencies into the business education curriculum to enhance graduate employability. Despite its limitations, the study underscores the value of graphic design training in equipping business education students for the competitive Nigerian job market.