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Hamilton College

Publication Date

Fall 2023

Program Name

Jordan: Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East

Abstract

This paper addresses the need for effective career guidance for university students, and sustainable post-graduation alumni support systems, to improve the employability of university graduates and reduce youth unemployment in Jordan. Through interviews and surveys, this paper will identify the key problems contributing to the skill mismatch between university graduates and the demands of the labor market. It will try and tackle how career centers can help their students develop soft skills like communication and teamwork, build a portfolio to differentiate themselves to employers, empower themselves with skills through online courses on software development, data science, research, and other technological skills that are in demand by the market, teach youth the importance of networking at conferences and building relationships with employers, and even advise students on how to choose majors based on individual passions and the demands of the job market. It will also analyze some of the fundamental problems faced by Career Guidance and Alumni Offices, including funding, understaffing, lack of engagement with students, and information asymmetries, and propose simple recommendations and changes to easily increase the efficacy of career centers. Recommendations include increasing engagement by integrating students into the career guidance system, being more strategic about when programs are offered and reaching out to students and merging theoretical education with mandatory practical industry-based exposure.

Disciplines

Economic Policy | Higher Education | International and Comparative Education | Near and Middle Eastern Studies | Student Counseling and Personnel Services

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