Life and career skills among TVET students in polytechnics in Malaysia
Unemployment is one of the problems faced by many countries. A gap between the skills required by employers and the skills possessed by graduates are one of the factors of unemployment. Employers nowadays seek for employees who possess appropriate skills to be employed. Life and career skills are essential to both learning and work in the 21st century. It is important both in the local and international careers. As in local context, polytechnics are one of the main technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in Malaysia that aiming to produce workforce to meet industrial needs. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the life and career skills among TVET students in polytechnic institutions in Malaysia. This study uses quantitative survey approach. Data were collected using a set of questionnaire developed based on the research objectives and literature review. A total of 821 diploma students from three types of polytechnics (Premier, conventional and METrO) were selected using disproportionate sampling method. The elements of 21st century life and career skills investigated were namely flexibility and adaptability, initiative and self direction, social and cross cultural skills, productivity and accountability and leadership and responsibility. Data gathered were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics involving t test and ANOVA using IBM SPSS version 21. This study also compared the students' life and career skills against types of polytechnics, students' gender and courses enrolled in different departments. Findings shows that there were significant difference between types of polytechnics, students' gender and different courses enrolled by the students on the life and career skills.