Assessment of Employability Preparedness among Penultimate Health Education Undergraduate Students in Oyo Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026394Abstract
The study assessed employability preparedness among penultimate health education undergraduates (PHEUs) in Oyo Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised all 300 level health education students at Emmanuel Alayande University of Education (EAUED), Oyo totaling 93. A purposive sampling technique was used to select all 93 PHEUs and formed the sample size. A validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was done using test re-test method and Cronbach alpha yielded 0.84. The research questions were answered using mean score. The null hypotheses were tested using Chi-square at 0.05 alpha level. The finding of the study indicate that there was a significant difference in the distribution of responses on the level of competence in employability-related skills (χ2 (36) = 286.67, p < 0.001); on the level of knowledge of health-related job opportunities (χ2 (1) = 226.86, p < 0.001); and in the distribution of challenges affecting employability preparedness (χ2 (3) = 302.01, p < 0.001) among PHEUs in Oyo, Mretropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study concludes that the level of competency in employability-related skills among PHEUs is fair; they had a high level of knowledge of health-related job opportunities and some challenges affect their employability preparedness. It was recommended that training institution should focus on skill-based training among health education undergraduates. There is need to strengthen career guidance initiatives. Also, practical training should be strengthened with goal oriented supervised practicum exercise.
References
Atah, C. A. & Abeng, C. O. (2019). Influence of institutional variables on employability skills acquisition among business education students in tertiary institutions in Cross Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Vocational and Technical Education Research, 5(1), 1-12.
Bell, M. A., Cake, M. A. & Mansfield, C. F. (2018). Beyond competence: why we should talk about employability in veterinary education. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 45(1), 27–37. doi: 10.3138/jvme.0616-103r1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0616-103r1
Brewer M, Flavell, H., Davis, M., Harris, C. & Bathgate, K. (2014). Ensuring health graduates’ employability in a changing world: Developing interprofessional practice capabilities using a framework to inform curricula. Journal of Teaching, Learning and Graduate Employment, 5(1), 29–46. doi: 10.21153/jtlge2014vol5no1art566. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2014vol5no1art566
Bruening, R. A., Coronado, F., Auld, M. E., Benenson, G. & Simone, P. M. (2018). Health education and workforce: opportunities and challenges. Preventing Chronic Disease,15:E89. doi:10.5888/pcd15.180045. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.180045
Chukwurah, C. & Akpo, C. (2019). Influence of student-teacher relationship and instructional facilities on employability skills acquisition among business education students’ in tertiary institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria. British International Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 6(5), 1-9.
Cobb, F. (2019). ‘There is no going back’: the transformation of higher education careers services using big data. Journal of the Institute of Career Education and Counselling. doi.10.08556/jnicec.4204. Retrieved March31, 2025 from https://nicejournal.co.uk/index.php/nc/article/view/342/341
Geel, M. (2014). An investigation into employability skills of undergraduate business management students. B. Com. Thesis, North-West University, Portchefstroom Campus.
Hanks, S., Coelho, C. & Coster R. (2018). Prepared for practice and equipped for employment: what do dental foundation trainers think of their trainees? British Dental Journal, 225(6), 549–55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.756
Harolds, J. A., Oates, M. E., Metter, D. F. & Guiberteau, M. J. (2014). Are nuclear medicine residents prepared for employment? A survey-informed perspective. Journal of American College of Radiology, 11(3), 221–224. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2013.07.010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2013.07.010
Hejazi, A. (2018). Examination of barriers to successful implementation of the new internship program at Farhangian University. Journal of Educational Institutions, 17(3), 47-70.
Institute of Progressive Policy and Development Studies (2024). Workplace readiness and employability, skills training program 4th–7th June, 2024, Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved March 31, 2025 from htpps://youngprogressives.ng/iamemployable.
Lawton, V., Jones, T. M. & Dean, C. M. (2021). Students achieve comparable performance scores for clinical placements in public and private sectors: a longitudinal observational study. Journal of Physiotherapy, 67(1), 56–61. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2020.12.001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2020.12.001
Mohabati, F., Arefi, M. & Hedayati, S. P. (2025). Revamping field practicum: insights for future health services management professionals. BMC Medical Education, 25, 81. https://doi.org/10.118/s12909-024-06486-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06486-9
Mohd, P., Mohd, H., Ahmed, B. & Ain, N. (2019). The influence of gender, career exposure and self-concept factors towards employability skills among students in entrepreneurial development and marketability program. In: 5th International Conference on Educational Research and Practice (ICERP). Paper presented at Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Muhammed, A. M. & Bakidi, B. (2014). Health education and employability. Nigerian Journal of Health Promotion, 7, 194-199.
Rodney, L. T. H. & Symeon, M. (2020). Students’ career readiness and employability. University of Technology, Swinburne, Sarawk campus. Retrieved March 16, 2025 from https://www.swinburne.edu.my/campus-beyond/students-acreer-readiness.employability/
School of Public Health (2021). Becoming a health educator: roles, salary and career insight. Boston University, School of Public Health Retrieved December 31, 2025 from https://www.bu.edu./sph/blog/becoming-a-health-educator/.
Uchendu, C. C. (2015). Assessing university students’ skill acquisition for employability in Cross River State. International Journal of Education, Learning and Development, 4(1), 45-51.
