Journal article
Undergraduate Perceptions of Social Media Proficiency and Graduate Employability - A Pilot Study
Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol.7(3), pp.261-274
2017
Abstract
Purpose: This pilot study explored undergraduate student attitudes towards the inclusion of social media training within higher education pedagogy, student perceptions of social media proficiency as professional expertise and its impact on graduate employability. Design/methodology/approach: Eighty-one undergraduate students studying medicine, law, science and arts volunteered to complete an online survey. Questions examined student attitudes towards the delivery of social media pedagogy at university and the perceived benefits of social media proficiency. Findings: Participants stated that social media skills should be taught in optional classes (85%) covering generic competencies (56%). The majority (91%) of respondents reported that social media skills and training were valuable for employability. Research limitations/implications: This was a pilot study and was therefore limited by the self-selection of participants, sample size and geographic location. Practical implications: his study identifies that undergraduates across a range of disciplines are receptive to developing professionally relevant social media skills within higher education pedagogy and identify a link between social media proficiency and graduate employability. Originality/value: Despite the increasing necessity for social media skills in professional environments, few studies have examined the teaching of social media skills as a core competency in higher education. Instead, social media is largely examined in relation to curriculum delivery and student engagement. This study explores attitudes towards the delivery of social media pedagogy at university and the perceived benefits of social media proficiency exclusively from the viewpoint of undergraduate students, to provide an alternative insight rarely explored in the literature.
Details
- Title
- Undergraduate Perceptions of Social Media Proficiency and Graduate Employability - A Pilot Study
- Authors
- Karen E Sutherland (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawSusie Ho (Author) - Monash University
- Publication details
- Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol.7(3), pp.261-274
- Publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1108/HESWBL-02-2017-0018
- ISSN
- 2042-3896
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2017 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Creative Industries - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451149902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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