Preparing Graduates for the Workforce: The Role of Business Education

Abstract

Abstract This study examined the skills that both employers and students feel are important and the teaching methods that they feel are most effective in helping students learn and develop the desired skills. Lack of work experience, unrealistic expectations, and poor written communication skills are perceived by employers as weaknesses of many business school graduates. Internships and projects provide a “real-world” experience and help students learn to think and solve problems and develop their communication skills, which are all critical components of an education. Experience also helps students grasp the importance of dependability and initiative. “Hands-on” learning experiences combined with the academic skills that students learn in the classroom help to provide business school graduates with a competitive advantage in the workplace.