Accounting Option Specialization Discipline and Employability Skills Development of Graduates; a Case of University of Nairobi

Abstract

In the context of ongoing technological advancements, evolving work processes, and worldwide institutional shifts, organizations in the globalized market endeavor to acquire capable and proficient workforce. To stay relevant in the current labour market, accountants need to broaden their fundamental expertise and comprehension of other competencies, owing to the advancements in proficiency and technology. Previous studies have indicated an association existing between employability skills development rate of graduate within the precepts of technical and professional training, professional ethics, values and attitudes. The objective of this study was to examine accounting option specialization discipline and employability skills development of graduates. The study was based on the signaling theory supported by resource input model and human capital theory. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaire. The participants of the study were final-year accounting students at the University of Nairobi due to their imminent completion of accounting education courses and subsequent transition into the accounting profession thus expected to have acquired the necessary employability skills during their collegiate years. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive analysis by use of mean and standard deviation as well as regression analysis to examine how the regressors related with the outcome variable at 5% significance level. The Social Packages for Social Science (SPSS) software was used for data analysis. The correlation results showed positive and strong association between technical skills training (r = 0.888, p = 0.001), professional skills training (r=0.864, p=0.001), professional ethics values (r=0.722, p=0.001) and employability skills development of University of Nairobi accounting graduates. Further, the results of the study indicated that with all factors held constant, the employability rate stood at 0.281 while professional skills training had a rate 0.356 effect on employability when all other factors are held constant, technical skills training had a rate 0.391 effect on employability when all other factors are held constant and professional ethics value had a rate 0.254 effect on employability when all other factors are held constant. The study recommends that graduates should not only be knowledgeable in their discipline, but also have important professional skills. Candidates that can combine technical expertise with great soft skills are highly valued by employers. The study was however limited by the scope as well as the period of the study. The study recommends similar study on a wider scope aiming at different higher education institutions and different specialization programmes.