Evaluating the Role of Practical Learning Activities in Enhancing Employment-Preparedness in Management Education: Stakeholders Perspective

ABSTRACT In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing labour market, graduating students from management programs are expected to have a strong set of skills that align with industry demands. Yet, there are large gaps between employability skills imparted by higher education and those required by employing organizations. The present study explores the impact of experiential learning activities—such as internships, live projects, and case-based learning—on improving students' employability. The study adopts a multi-stakeholder strategy by gathering quantitative feedback from students, instructors, and employers, analysing their views on salient employability skills. The study employs a Likert-scale questionnaire systematically developed to assess thirty essential management competencies across ten thematic categories. To compare differences among stakeholder groups, various statistical methods are employed, including descriptive statistics, gap analysis, the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality, Levene's test for homogeneity of variances, and Welch's ANOVA. Statistically significant gaps in perception for competencies such as analytical thinking, creative problem-solving, flexibility, and quality control are evident across educators and employers. The results also indicate that students consistently underestimate the value of soft skills and stress-management capabilities, while teachers perceive a lack of creativity and lifelong learning. Cronbach's Alpha (α = 0.32) revealed low internal consistency, indicating a requirement for more convergent measurement of skills in education systems. This research concludes that integrating more experiential learning elements into management education can substantially decrease employability skill gaps. It calls for pedagogy based on industry feedback, with experiential engagement and robust skill-building to harmonize academic preparation with the demands of the professional world. These findings serve as a guide for universities seeking to update curricula and enhance graduate preparedness for competitive global job markets.