Graduate employability as a key metric for evaluating higher education efficiency
Graduate employability as a key metric for evaluating higher education efficiency

Summary/Abstract: Graduate employability is increasingly recognized as a critical indicator of higher education institutions (HEIs) efficiency. Employability, encompassing the skills, knowledge, and attributes that enable graduates to secure and thrive in meaningful employment, serves as a tangible outcome of educational investment. This paper examines the existing research, highlighting the theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, and methodological considerations surrounding graduate employability assessment. Furthermore, it incorporates data and perspectives from the Romanian higher education context, which faces specific challenges and opportunities in enhancing graduate employability. Improving data collection on employability by the HEIs is critical, to ensure that reports to external evaluation agencies are correct. Despite efforts to enhance educational outcomes, Romania faces significant challenges, including lower higher education attainment and suboptimal graduate employment rates. Some potential strategies to improve graduate employability in Romania are briefly discussed, emphasizing the importance of aligning curricula with labor market demands, fostering industry collaborations, encouraging entrepreneurship, or enhancing career services inside universities.

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