Are we teaching what employers want? Identifying and remedying gaps between employer needs, accreditor prescriptions, and undergraduate curricular priorities. Issue 6 (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rhew, Nicholas D.; Black, Janice A.; Keels, J. Kay
• Other Names: Holland Brian guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Industry & higher education. Volume 33:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 362
• Page End: 369
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Employability -- skills gap -- workforce readiness; Business and education -- Periodicals; University cooperation -- Periodicals; 378.104
• DOI: 10.1177/0950422219874703
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-4222

Abstract

Employers and policy makers have criticized higher education institutions for the perceived knowledge and skills deficiencies of their graduates. This article seeks to identify the gaps between employer needs, curricular priorities, and accrediting standards, specifically in the management domain. To this end, the authors content analyzed 200 job announcements for entry-level management positions in the 10 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States and the learning goals of 51 business programs, comparing both to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business's Standard 9. While the findings demonstrate considerable overlap between employers' stated needs, business programs' curricular focus, and accrediting standards, notable gaps emerged, especially in the area of self-management. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for both business programs and accrediting bodies.