Irwan Affendi Md Naim P61946

As of June 2010, 32000 local graduates are still unemployed after six months of graduation (Ministry of Higher Education 2010). Lack of generic skills among graduates is said as the main factor for their unemployment (Kamsah 2007).

Seet and Seet (2006) stated that, the luxury thought of university graduates are the elite and intelligent group in the society whom can easily acquire a job upon graduation has no longer reflected the realities of todays employment world.

Are the students aware of the importance of generic skills to secure employment?

What are the most and least attained generic skills among undergraduates?

Definition of Generic Skills The employability skills used in the application of knowledge. These skills are not job specific, but are skills which cut horizontally across all industries and vertically across all jobs (Kamsah 2004)

Communication Skills Critical thinking & Problem Solving Skills Teamworking Skills Lifelong Learning & Information Management Entrepreneurship Skills Ethics & Professional Moral Leadership Skills

Generic Skills as Employability Skills

Generic skills enable people to use their technical abilities as a part of a team, to understand conflict as a means for discussion instead of an angry confrontation, and to respect difference as a creative opportunity rather than an obstacle (Kamsah 2004)

. A review of the literature indicated that employers have no quarrel with the skills performance of today's graduates, but they do have serious reservations when it comes to their non-technical abilities
(Wentling 1987)

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

GENERIC SKILLS

(ELSP)

Population undergraduates in a private tertiary institution Sample final year students Data collection questionnaire and interview Data analysis SPSS and analysis of transcript

Previous Works
Rajes K.M.Rajan (2010). Soft Skill Requirement For Employability Marlina, A. & Shaharom, N. (2010).- Kemahiran Berfikir Kritis & Kaitan dengan Pencapaian Pelajar Aida et.al. (2006) - Problem Solving Abilities Khairiyah & Mimi. (2004) - Cooperative Learning and PBL KPT. (2006). Modul Pembangunan Kemahiran Insaniah untuk Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia