Graduate Attributes and Employability Skills in TVET in Malaysia: A Systematic Review towards Holistic and Future-Ready Graduates
Atribut Graduan dan Kemahiran Kebolehpasaran dalam TVET di Malaysia:Suatu Ulasan Sistematik ke Arah Graduan Holistik dan Siapsiaga Masa Hadapan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37134/mrj.vol14.2.6.2025Keywords:
TVET, graduate attributes, employability skills, holistic graduatesAbstract
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been increasingly recognized as a crucial pathway in preparing skilled human capital for Malaysia’s socio-economic development. However, persistent concerns regarding graduate employability have highlighted the need to revisit the graduate attributes and employability skills that TVET institutions aim to nurture. This study conducts a systematic review to synthesize existing literature on graduate attributes and employability skills in Malaysian TVET contexts. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 guideline, using electronic databases including Scopus, ERA, MyCite, and Google Scholar, covering studies published between 2010 and 2024. Articles were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, yielding a final sample of 42 empirical and conceptual studies. The findings reveal that technical competencies remain the dominant focus in Malaysian TVET curricula; however, industry and policy documents consistently emphasise the importance of soft skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial orientation, communication, teamwork, and ethical values. The review also identifies several gaps, including limited integration of holistic attributes such as sustainability, civic responsibility, and adaptability to Industry 4.0 demands. The study concludes that while significant progress has been made in embedding employability skills in Malaysian TVET, a more balanced framework that integrates both technical and holistic graduate attributes is required to ensure the production of future-ready graduates. This review provides useful implications for policymakers, curriculum developers, and TVET institutions aiming to enhance graduate employability and competitiveness. This review contributes by synthesising the evidence into a pyramid model of graduate attributes, offering a holistic and policy-relevant framework for strengthening employability in Malaysian TVET.
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