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Enhancing employability through need satisfaction and work-based learning: the mediating role of WBL engagement.

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Title: Enhancing employability through need satisfaction and work-based learning: the mediating role of WBL engagement.
Authors: Aisyah, St.1 (AUTHOR) st.aisyah@unm.ac.id, Parenrengi, Syafiuddin2 (AUTHOR) syafiuddin.pare@unm.ac.id, Jamaluddin, Jamaluddin3 (AUTHOR) jamaluddin6702@unm.ac.id, Mahande, Ridwan Daud4 (AUTHOR) ridwandm@unm.ac.id, Setialaksana, Wirawan4 (AUTHOR) wirawans@unm.ac.id
Source: Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. 2026, Vol. 18 Issue 5, p1457-1472. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Employability, *Autonomy (Psychology), *Cooperative education, *Student engagement, Need (Psychology), Satisfaction, Social skills, Relatedness (Psychology)
Geographic Terms: Indonesia
Abstract: Purpose: This study examines how satisfying psychological needs—relatedness, competence, and autonomy—affects Work-Based Learning (WBL) engagement and employability outcomes in college students. It investigates whether WBL engagement mediates the relationship between need satisfaction, employability attributes, and competence, offering insights for designing WBL programs that better prepare students for the workforce. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative, cross-sectional study using an electronic questionnaire was conducted in July 2024 among 284 college students at Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia, who had participated in WBL. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data and investigate the direct and mediating effects of need satisfaction on employability outcomes via WBL engagement, considering demographic factors and constructs related to need satisfaction, WBL engagement, employability attributes, and employability competence. Findings: The study revealed that need satisfaction (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) significantly influences employability attributes and competence. WBL engagement partially mediates the relationship, showing a positive effect on employability attributes but an insignificant impact on employability competence. Additionally, employability attributes were found to significantly enhance employability competence. These findings underscore the importance of fulfilling students' needsfor satisfaction and engaging them in work-based learning to improve their employability outcomes. Practical implications: To improve student employability and competence through WBL, it is essential to prioritize student needs for relatedness, competence, and autonomy within WBL. Educators and policymakers must create supportive learning environments that address these psychological needs and include practical experiences to better prepare students for workforce challenges. Originality/value: While the benefits of WBL have been acknowledged, this study specifically endeavors to explore how catering to students' psychological needs can augment the effectiveness of WBL. The findings of this research provide empirical evidence that can serve as a foundation for crafting WBL programs that address students' psychological needs, ultimately enhancing their employability prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 193956294
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: Enhancing employability through need satisfaction and work-based learning: the mediating role of WBL engagement.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aisyah%2C+St%2E%22">Aisyah, St.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> st.aisyah@unm.ac.id</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Parenrengi%2C+Syafiuddin%22">Parenrengi, Syafiuddin</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> syafiuddin.pare@unm.ac.id</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jamaluddin%2C+Jamaluddin%22">Jamaluddin, Jamaluddin</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jamaluddin6702@unm.ac.id</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mahande%2C+Ridwan+Daud%22">Mahande, Ridwan Daud</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ridwandm@unm.ac.id</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Setialaksana%2C+Wirawan%22">Setialaksana, Wirawan</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> wirawans@unm.ac.id</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Applied+Research+in+Higher+Education%22">Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 18 Issue 5, p1457-1472. 16p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employability%22">Employability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autonomy+%28Psychology%29%22">Autonomy (Psychology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cooperative+education%22">Cooperative education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+engagement%22">Student engagement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Need+%28Psychology%29%22">Need (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Satisfaction%22">Satisfaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+skills%22">Social skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Relatedness+%28Psychology%29%22">Relatedness (Psychology)</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indonesia%22">Indonesia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This study examines how satisfying psychological needs—relatedness, competence, and autonomy—affects Work-Based Learning (WBL) engagement and employability outcomes in college students. It investigates whether WBL engagement mediates the relationship between need satisfaction, employability attributes, and competence, offering insights for designing WBL programs that better prepare students for the workforce. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative, cross-sectional study using an electronic questionnaire was conducted in July 2024 among 284 college students at Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia, who had participated in WBL. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data and investigate the direct and mediating effects of need satisfaction on employability outcomes via WBL engagement, considering demographic factors and constructs related to need satisfaction, WBL engagement, employability attributes, and employability competence. Findings: The study revealed that need satisfaction (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) significantly influences employability attributes and competence. WBL engagement partially mediates the relationship, showing a positive effect on employability attributes but an insignificant impact on employability competence. Additionally, employability attributes were found to significantly enhance employability competence. These findings underscore the importance of fulfilling students' needsfor satisfaction and engaging them in work-based learning to improve their employability outcomes. Practical implications: To improve student employability and competence through WBL, it is essential to prioritize student needs for relatedness, competence, and autonomy within WBL. Educators and policymakers must create supportive learning environments that address these psychological needs and include practical experiences to better prepare students for workforce challenges. Originality/value: While the benefits of WBL have been acknowledged, this study specifically endeavors to explore how catering to students' psychological needs can augment the effectiveness of WBL. The findings of this research provide empirical evidence that can serve as a foundation for crafting WBL programs that address students' psychological needs, ultimately enhancing their employability prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 1457
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Employability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autonomy (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cooperative education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student engagement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Need (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Satisfaction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Relatedness (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Indonesia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Enhancing employability through need satisfaction and work-based learning: the mediating role of WBL engagement.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Aisyah, St.
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            NameFull: Parenrengi, Syafiuddin
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            NameFull: Jamaluddin, Jamaluddin
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            NameFull: Mahande, Ridwan Daud
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            NameFull: Setialaksana, Wirawan
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            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: 2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education
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