FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

This study relates to the employers ’ assessment of graduates ’ skills as deem required by the industries. The business need for accelerated performance levels induces a responding desire for rapid changes in the skills required by universities ’ graduates. A changing environment with resultant organizational restructuring means graduates now find jobs are more demanding as the needs of business to be more competitive. Whereas in the past, managerial competence went hand in hand with the possession of specific skills and abilities, it now seems to involve more. Empirical evidence from the research suggests that respondents share a basic commitment to the development of common skills within the context of a business and management studies programme. Clearly the employers participating in this study placed greater emphasis on major subjects of management and business (53.5%) and less on elective subjects (18.4%). Interestingly, the Quality Assurance Unit in Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia also made a guideline of 50-60 % of major subjects in Management and Business programme for undergraduate programme. On the other hand