Volume 1, 2023 – Issue 2 
Nurturing human skills for excellence: A pathway to success for IT engineering students and graduates
Hicham Barakat
1
Department of Management, Languages and Communication, Institut National des Postes et Télécommunications, Rabat, Morocco.
Corresponding author: barakat@inpt.ac.ma
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14787116
Abstract
This article has a particular theoretical orientation, as it seeks to advance our understanding of issues related to human skills in Moroccan engineering schools. Besides, it presents a conceptual framework that links previous research on upskilling, learning theory and practice within the framework of technological development and changing curricula. Taking cue from relevant scientific reports and field experience, and proposing English language competence as a key performance indicator for advanced human skills, the study shows how career-aligned curricula, pedagogical innovation and transformative governance can improve students’ and graduates’ skill-sets and employability, and result in high-performing organizations. Finally, implications for making use of skill-mapping models and skill framework analyses are discussed in the hope that prospective data-driven learner monitoring and evaluation will improve student workplace readiness and attract the attention of potential employers.
Keywords: upskilling, skill-mapping, information technology, language competence, transferable skills, skills mismatch.
Published
2023/06/30
—
Section
Research Papers
How to Cite (APA)
Download Citation: Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
References
Abumere, F.I. (2014). In What Circumstances Would One Consider Employing the Focus Group. International Journal of Community Research, 3-5. Staffordshire University, Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies. Staffordshire. The UK.
Brint, S., Ilhan, A. O. (2020). The Socially-Embedded University: Graduate Students Preparation and the Ascendant Priorities of U.S. Research Universities. University of California in Riverside and Ozyegin University. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344283837_SociallyEmbedded University
Bradford, S. B., W. J. Kozlowski, S. (2008). Active Learning: Effects of Core Training Design Elements on Self-Regulatory Processes, Learning, and Adaptability. Cornell University ILR School. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/5129729.pdf
Blake, B., Pope, T. (2008). Developmental Psychology: Incorporating Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s Theories in Classrooms. Journal of Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives in Education.Vol. 1, No. 1. 59 – 67. https://mxtsch.people.wm.edu/Teaching/JCPE/Volume1/JCPE_2008-01-09.pdf
Crebert, G., Bates, M. J., Bell, B. J., Patrick, C. (2004). Developing generic skills at university, during work placement and in employment: Graduates’ perceptions. Higher Education Research and Development 24(2). Griffith University. Australia. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/29456759_Developing_generic_skills_at_university_during_work_placement_and_in_employment_Graduates’_perceptions
Campion, C. Aaron, A., 2021, Part I. Chapter V. The Synergistic Classroom: Interdisciplinary Teaching in the Small College. https://www.google.co.ma/books/edition/The_Synergistic_Classroom/h6n8DwAAQBAJ?hl=fr&gbpv=1&dq=gorscht+reuven+on+skills&pg=PT37&printsec=frontcover
Council of Europe. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment – Companion volume. 2020 https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages
Christensen, T., Gornitzka, A., Ramirez, F. O. (2019). Reputation management, social embeddedness and rationalization of universities. Universities as Agencies: Reputation and Professionalization.1-35. Oslo: Palgrave Macmillan. https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/10852/76413/2/Chapter1.ChristensenGornitzkaRamirez.final.with.pdf
Daryl, S. J. The Theory and Method of Articulation in Cultural Studies, in Stuart Hall’s Critical Dialogues in Cultural Studies (1996). 113-125. https://pages.mtu.edu/~jdslack/readings/CSReadings/Slack_Theory_and_Method_of_Articulation.pdf
Dolores, M. M. L., Pedrosa, A. V. C. (2018). Teacher Perspectives on CLIL Implementation: A Within-Group Comparison of Key Variables. University of Jaén. https://www.ugr.es/~portalin/articulos/PL_numero29/8_MARIA%20DOLORES%20MILLA.pdf
Freeman, S., Eddy, S., Smith, M. (2014). Active Learning Increases Student Performance in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111(23). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262267588_Active_Learning_Increases_Student_Performance_in_Science_Engineering_and_Mathematics
Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: A Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic Books.
Gokop L. Goteng, M. Mahruf C. Shohel and Faisal Tariq (2022). Enhancing Student Employability in Collaboration with the Industry: Case Study of a Partnership with Amazon Web Services Academy. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/6/366
“Thriving in the Global Skills Shortage” (2020). Cornerstone’s People Research Lab. https://www.unleash.ai/skills-development/thriving-in-the-global-skills-shortage/
Gorscht R. (2014, May). Are You Ready? Here Are the Top 10 Skills for the Future. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2014/05/12/are-you-ready-here-are-the-top-10-skillsfor-the-future/#cb5b997c34a5
Gysegom, W., Houthuys, S., Khanna, S., Migliorini, R., Misljencevic, D., Robertson, M. (2021). 4IR capability building: Opportunities and solutions for lasting impact. McKinsey Global Institute. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/4ir-capability-building-opportunities-and-solutions-for-lasting-impact
Geurin, A. N., McNary, E. L. (2010). What Are We Teaching Our Students? A Descriptive Examination of the Current Status of Undergraduate Sport Management Curricula in the United States. Sport Management Education Journal 4(1):1-17. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306055574_What_Are_We_Teaching_Our_Students_A_Descriptive_Examination_of_the_Current_Status_of_Undergraduate_Sport_Management_Curricula_in_the_United_States
Global Skills Report (2022). Coursera. https://www.coursera.org/skills-reports/global
Huei-Fu Lu. (2021). Enhancing university student employability through practical experiential learning in the sport industry: An industry-academia cooperation case from Taiwan. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education. Vol. 28. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473837621000022
Huffaker, D., Calvert, S. L. (2003). The New Science of Learning: Active Learning, Metacognition, and Transfer of Knowledge in E-Learning Applications. Journal of Educational Computing Research 29(3):325-334. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249859390_The_New_Science_of_Learning_Active_Learning_Metacognition_and_Transfer_of_Knowledge_in_E-Learning_Applications
Knight, P. Yorke, M. (2003). Learning, Curriculum and Employability in Higher Education. ReasearchGate Publications. DOI: 10.4324/9780203465271
Karzunina, D., West, J., Maschião da Costa, G., Philippou, G., Gordon, S. (2018). The Global Skills Gap in the 21st Century. The Quacquarelli Symonds Intelligence Unit (QS) and the Institute of Student Employers (ISE). https://www.qs.com/portfolio-items/the-global-skills-gap-in-the-21st-century/
Lufkin B. (2022, April). What ‘upskilling’ means for the future of work. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220412-what-upskilling-means-for-the-future-of-work
Muhsin , S. Martono , Ahmad Nurkhin, Hengky Pramusinto, Nely Afsari & Ahmad Fadhly Arham (2020). The Relationship of Good University Governance and Student Satisfaction. International Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 9, No. 1,3-5. URL: https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v9n1p1
Meyen, E. L., Aust, R. J., Bui, Y. N. & Isaacson, R. E. (2003). Assessing and Monitoring Student Progress in E-Learning Environments. The University of Kansas–e-Learning Design Lab, USA. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/303039289.pdf
Mcleod, S. (2023). Constructivism Learning Theory & Educational Philosophy. Simply Psychology, 3-5. https://www.simplypsychology.org/constructivism.html
Pinky J. (2017). Modern Resilience Is A Learned Behaviour. American Psychological Association. https://www.thepositivepsychologypeople.com/modern-resilience-is-a-learned-behaviour/
Peacock, J., Bacon, K. L. (2018). Enhancing student employability through urban ecology fieldwork. (Harris-Reeves & Mahoney, 2017). Taylor & Francis Group. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23752696.2018.1462097%40rhep20.2018.3.issue-V2
Reskilling Revolution Initiative. (2023). The World Economic Forum. https://initiatives.weforum.org/reskilling-revolution/home
Sumanasiri, E.G.T., Yajid, M.S.A. and Khatibi, A. (2015) Conceptualizing Learning and Employability “Learning and Employability Framework”. Journal of Education and Learning,4,53-63. https://doi.org/10.5539/jel.v4n2p53
Skills Gap Report (2019). Udemy. https://research.udemy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2019_2020-Skills-Gap-Report-FINAL.pdf
Shook E. and Knickrehm M. (2017). Harnessing Revolution: Creating the future workforce. Accenture Research Report. https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/pdf-40/accenture-strategy-harnessing-revolution-pov.pdf
Thriving in the Global Skills Shortage (2021). Cornerstone. https://elearningindustry.com/free-ebooks/thriving-in-the-global-skills-shortage-your-path-through-the-wilderness
“The Unbounded University: Unlocking Opportunities through Online Learning” (2021). Coursera for Campus. https://blog.coursera.org/introducing-the-unbounded-university/
About the authors
- Hicham Barakat, has an educational background in Social Sciences and, more particularly, on International Development. Years of teaching practice have enabled him to hone his skills further in student coaching, mentoring and supervision, and inspired him to develop research interests on Environmental Migration, Sustainability Science, ICT Regulation, Human Resource Development and Learning Analytics, believed to be at the forefront of international debates on climate change, the sharing economy, empowerment, employee engagement and performance, as well as responsible growth paradigm. At INPT, he makes sure his students become familiar with different disciplinary and methodological approaches and take inspiration from the shared insights to address the nexus between societal transformation, educational and social interventions, expert and everyday knowledge, as well as organisational forms and institutions.
barakat@inpt.ac.ma
↩︎


