Perceptions of Employability of Undergraduate Business Program Graduates: A Qualitative Analysis

Background: Students' perspective on graduate employability is an essential aspect to consider as they are the primary stakeholders of higher education institutions. Therefore, exploring graduates' perspectives their and considering opinions when designing policies programs improve crucial. However, little attention has been paid employability. Objectives: This paper explored perceptions employability, labour market, views academic credentials skills in obtaining retaining employment. The also examined role business schools enhancing how universities have prepared graduates enter market context human capital approach. Methods: study adopted a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with small sample 38 undergraduate students from two different who graduated constituent college Pokhara university 2019 2021 purposive sampling. were designed elicit in-depth responses participants allow them share experiences insights. used thematic analysis analyze data, which involved identifying patterns themes within data. transcripts carefully reviewed analyzed, generated based recurring ideas expressed by participants. Results: demonstrated that understood becoming employable potential skills. Graduates viewed possessing one key benefits ofbecoming competitive congested market. further illustrated employers expect both discipline-specific knowledge soft graduates. data suggested although many felt could provide theoretical knowledge, need pay more practical-based especially Conclusion: findings provided insights into recent comprehend view current position increasingly relative positional competition for resources, appears bearing perceive shown sides potential: strong see develop broader incorporates building competencies outside formal learning context. implications schools, policymakers researchers discourse knowledge-driven economy.