View in EDS

Higher Education Expansion and Graduate Employability: Policy Impacts and Institutional Responses in Comparative Perspective

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Higher Education Expansion and Graduate Employability: Policy Impacts and Institutional Responses in Comparative Perspective
Language: English
Authors: Huan Xiao (ORCID 0000-0002-1698-8936), Zhichong Ma (ORCID 0009-0007-3846-3448)
Source: European Journal of Education. 2026 61(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Higher Education, Employment Potential, Education Work Relationship, College Graduates, Labor Market
DOI: 10.1111/ejed.70652
ISSN: 0141-8211
1465-3435
Abstract: The rapid global expansion of higher education has led to a significant increase in the number of graduates entering the job market, creating major challenges in graduate employability. These challenges are largely driven by mismatches between academic training and labour market requirements, limited collaboration between academia and industry, and insufficient implementation of quality management systems and accreditation frameworks in some institutions. This study investigates the impact of higher education expansion on graduate employability using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). It evaluates key factors such as curriculum alignment, Quality Management Systems (QMS), policy frameworks and industry collaboration. The study also considers the role of accessible e-learning frameworks in supporting inclusive education. The findings indicate that the implementation of QMS significantly improves employment outcomes (β = 0.52, p < 0.05). Additionally, industry collaboration plays a mediating role in enhancing employability (β = 0.45, p < 0.01). A supportive policy environment further strengthens these relationships, particularly in regions with well-established regulatory systems. The study concludes that strengthening institutional quality practices, improving curriculum alignment with industry needs and fostering academia--industry collaboration are essential to bridging the gap between education and employment. Furthermore, inclusive and accessible e-learning systems contribute to equitable employability outcomes for all graduates.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506936
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1506936
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Higher Education Expansion and Graduate Employability: Policy Impacts and Institutional Responses in Comparative Perspective
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Huan+Xiao%22&quot;&gt;Huan Xiao&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1698-8936&quot;&gt;0000-0002-1698-8936&lt;/externalLink&gt;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Zhichong+Ma%22&quot;&gt;Zhichong Ma&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3846-3448&quot;&gt;0009-0007-3846-3448&lt;/externalLink&gt;)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;SO&quot; term=&quot;%22European+Journal+of+Education%22&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;European Journal of Education&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/searchLink&gt;. 2026 61(2).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 15
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles&lt;br /&gt;Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;EL&quot; term=&quot;%22Higher+Education%22&quot;&gt;Higher Education&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;EL&quot; term=&quot;%22Postsecondary+Education%22&quot;&gt;Postsecondary Education&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Higher+Education%22&quot;&gt;Higher Education&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Employment+Potential%22&quot;&gt;Employment Potential&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Education+Work+Relationship%22&quot;&gt;Education Work Relationship&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22College+Graduates%22&quot;&gt;College Graduates&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Labor+Market%22&quot;&gt;Labor Market&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1111/ejed.70652
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0141-8211&lt;br /&gt;1465-3435
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The rapid global expansion of higher education has led to a significant increase in the number of graduates entering the job market, creating major challenges in graduate employability. These challenges are largely driven by mismatches between academic training and labour market requirements, limited collaboration between academia and industry, and insufficient implementation of quality management systems and accreditation frameworks in some institutions. This study investigates the impact of higher education expansion on graduate employability using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). It evaluates key factors such as curriculum alignment, Quality Management Systems (QMS), policy frameworks and industry collaboration. The study also considers the role of accessible e-learning frameworks in supporting inclusive education. The findings indicate that the implementation of QMS significantly improves employment outcomes (β = 0.52, p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, industry collaboration plays a mediating role in enhancing employability (β = 0.45, p &lt; 0.01). A supportive policy environment further strengthens these relationships, particularly in regions with well-established regulatory systems. The study concludes that strengthening institutional quality practices, improving curriculum alignment with industry needs and fostering academia--industry collaboration are essential to bridging the gap between education and employment. Furthermore, inclusive and accessible e-learning systems contribute to equitable employability outcomes for all graduates.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1506936
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1506936
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/ejed.70652
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employment Potential
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Education Work Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Graduates
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor Market
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Higher Education Expansion and Graduate Employability: Policy Impacts and Institutional Responses in Comparative Perspective
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Huan Xiao
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhichong Ma
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0141-8211
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1465-3435
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 61
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: European Journal of Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1