THE IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS ON REDUCING GRADUATES UNEMPLOYMENT IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

The present study investigated the influence of entrepreneurial skills on mitigating the issue of graduate unemployment, with a specific focus on the context of Malaysia. The primary aim of this study is to examine the potential for cultivating entrepreneurial skills among students enrolled in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia. The government has implemented several initiatives to support graduates' entrepreneurial endeavors. These include the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) or MEB (HE), which presents a comprehensive transformation program for the higher education system. Additionally, the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Entrepreneurial Action Plan 2016-2020 outlines four key initiatives: high-impact education practices, a job creator framework, enhancement of the student entrepreneur development support ecosystem, and the bolstering of the competency of the entrepreneur teaching force. Aligned with the overarching national agenda, the cultivation of entrepreneurial competencies among students enrolled in higher education institutions (HEIs) assumes paramount significance in addressing the prevailing challenges of unemployment. It is imperative to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students, to inspire them to pursue entrepreneurship as a viable career path following their completion of formal education. The cultivation of entrepreneurial skills among graduates can be attributed to a multitude of causes. Hence, this research holds considerable importance as it aims to investigate the impact of entrepreneurial skills on addressing unemployment challenges among students and promoting self-employment or entrepreneurship among graduates.