STAKEHOLDERS’ EXPECTATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH COMPETENCY AND ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR ENGLISH MAJORS UNDER THE APPROACH OF WORK-BASED EDUCATION
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This study explored stakeholders’ views on the English language competencies and essential skills needed to improve the employability of new graduates in the English major, with a focus on Work-based Education (WBE). The research involved 180 participants, including 30 executives and 150 operational staff from various sectors, including modern trade, services, and health and wellness. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire for all participants and an in-depth interview with executives. The questionnaire assessed participants’ perspectives on the English skills necessary for securing employment, while the interview provided insights into additional skills required by employers. Analysis of the data revealed that linguistic proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as knowledge of culture, information technology, and workplace skills, were critical for employability. Executives highlighted the importance of both hard and soft skills, such as teamwork, creativity, resilience and growth mindset, critical thinking, innovativeness, leadership, and specialized knowledge. They also emphasized the practicality of the WBE approach, which helps prepare graduates with the required hard and soft skills to be ready to work during internships and after graduation. The interviewees also recommended that classrooms should focus on real-life contexts, such as role-playing, case studies, and engaging fun-filled activities, to enhance learning and foster essential skills for future employment.
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“ข้าพเจ้าและผู้เขียนร่วม (ถ้ามี) ขอรับรองว่า บทความที่เสนอมานี้ยังไม่เคยได้รับการตีพิมพ์และไม่ได้อยู่ระหว่างกระบวนการพิจารณาลงตีพิมพ์ในวารสารหรือแหล่งเผยแพร่อื่นใด ข้าพเจ้าและผู้เขียนร่วมยอมรับหลักเกณฑ์การพิจารณาต้นฉบับ ทั้งยินยอมให้กองบรรณาธิการมีสิทธิ์พิจารณาและตรวจแก้ต้นฉบับได้ตามที่เห็นสมควร พร้อมนี้ขอมอบลิขสิทธิ์บทความที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์ให้แก่สถาบันการจัดการปัญญาภิวัฒน์หากมีการฟ้องร้องเรื่องการละเมิดลิขสิทธิ์เกี่ยวกับภาพ กราฟ ข้อความส่วนใดส่วนหนึ่งและ/หรือข้อคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความข้าพเจ้าและผู้เขียนร่วมยินยอมรับผิดชอบแต่เพียงฝ่ายเดียว”
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