Workforce Development Career Development Preparation And Readiness Of Undergraduates To Join The Workforce The Case Of Sociology And Social Anthropology And Psychology Students In Addis Ababa University
The central focus of the paper is to review and analyze the existing status of workforcerndevelopment. Students do not get services that can shape their career future and are notrnexposed to the work environment to exercise their academic training. Therefore, it is apparentrnto ask where does one prepare to enter to the workforce: Is it before or after graduating fromrnthe university that students learn about the work environment?rnBoth qualitative and quantitative data is collected from undergraduate students,rnemploying agencies and recent graduates who join the workforce. Respondents werernrandomly selected from the departments of Sociology and Social Anthropology (SoSa) andrnPsychology by using stratified random sampling technique with fair representation of bothrnsexes. Key informants' interview and group discussion guides were employed to collectrninformation from possible employing organizations and young adults who join the workforcernrecently while structured questionnaire was used to collect firsthand information fromrnundergraduate students. Different competency models were reviewed and used with somernmodification to fit the purpose of the research.rnThe finding of the study has clearly revealed the existing gap between supplyrn(university education) and demand (employers' expectation) and lack of career services tornguide students in the process of their career development. This in general affects the effort ofrnthe university in producing competent workforce. Therefore, it is commendable that thernuniversity should give emphasis on the issue and work with the respective departments tornmeet the demands of employers as well as incorporate learning-for-work in the educationrnsystem so that students will have a smooth transition from school to work environment. It isrnalso suggested that the university should strengthen and establish career services in all therncampuses