DefinePK

Abstract

The current interpretive qualitative study explored the relevance of higher education programs to job market demands. This study aimed to get opinions of participants on the relevance of higher education programs with labour market needs, and potential strategies to enhance alignment of academic competencies with employability outcomes. A semi-structured interview protocol was used to collect data. Fifteen participants (faculty members, HoDs/senior administrators, representatives of Quality Assurance Cell) at public and private sector universities of Punjab province were selected through purposive sampling. The collected data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed that non-alignment of curriculum with market needs, traditional and outdated teaching methodologies and limited soft skills development caused unemployability and dissatisfaction on the part of the industry.  In addition, poor industry-academia collaboration and limited professional guidelines hindered graduate employability. These findings highlighted a pressing need for policy-level reforms, innovative teaching practices, and systematic changes that prioritize practical, future-ready, and entrepreneurial competencies.