Research Institutions Roles in Enhancing Employability: Bridging the Gap between Education and Market Needs

The mismatch between skills acquired from educational institutions and industry demands is critical in the modern job market.Despite having high academic qualifications, graduates often lack the specific skills needed by industries, leading to difficulties in securing relevant employment and contributing to rising unemployment.This study examines the role of research institutions in enhancing graduate employability by bridging the gap between education and market needs.The study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing content analysis methods on reports and data from two major research institutions in Malaysia, namely the Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) and the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER).The study findings outline effective strategies employed by both institutions to improve graduate employability through analysing trends and issues, shaping policies, international policy dialogue engagement, and monitoring graduate outcomes.Besides that, KRI & MIER plays essential role in shaping strategies and policies to enhance graduate employability through in-depth research on labor market trends and conducted econometric