The Mediating Effect of Higher Education Research and Innovation Practices in Addressing Economic Challenges: Graduates' Employability Perspectives

Abstract

This study was conducted to scrutinize the role of higher education research and innovation practices in addressing economic challenges, with due focus on perceived graduates' employability. A mediation analysis, with parameter estimates was utilized to observe the direct, indirect, and total effects of different higher education characteristics including access, quality, program relevance, and institutional facilities and infrastructures on graduates’ employability. The study also involved some other intervening variables that affect graduates’ employment in one way or another. To analyze the data, Jaffrey’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP 018.3.0), which is open and free, was used. The findings of the study showed that both education quality and program relevance have positive significant direct effect on graduates’ employability while a negative effect was observed between access and the outcome variable. The mediation effect of higher education research and innovation practices was found to be less strong with most of the variables treated in the study. In another words, there is no strong statistical evidence to reach a conclusion that such practices in higher education contribute to graduates’ employability. The total effect of higher education on the response variable is found to be statistically significant with program relevance and education quality practices. To conclude, as the effect of program relevance found to be statistically significant, aligning the educational programs with industry needs plays a crucial role in addressing macro-economic problems such as employment issues.