THE ROLE OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN IMPROVING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

The study examined the perceptions of stakeholders with regards to the role of student engagement strategies in improving employability skills. This was done with a view to bridging the gaps between the town and gown requirements. The population of the study comprised of final year students of Estate management and the Lecturers in the higher institutions that have been given full accreditation by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) to offer Estate Management at the undergraduate level in the south-western region of Nigeria]. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires, distributed to seventy-four (74) lecturers and three hundred and thirty (330) final year undergraduate students within the study area. Data collected were mainly perceptual and were measured using nominal and ordinal scales and analyzed using frequency distributions and categorical regression models. The findings from the study revealed that student engagement strategies such as, completing and turning-in all assignments at the specified time, not attending classes without completing the required preparatory work, voluntarily participating in school activities, thinking through topics to decide what to learn from them (application of knowledge), being up-to-date academic studies, developing a good relationship with other students and discussing academic performance with lecturers and getting feedback were significant in exposing students to employability skills. The study recommended that students should be encouraged to engage in group activities to help foster the development of employability skills.