KAZAKHSTANI EMPLOYERS’ EXPECTATIONS OF STEM GRADUATE SKILLS

Abstract

Due to the neoliberal ideology and capitalist education, competent and skilled graduates are in short supply yet in great demand. To generate skilled graduates, universities transitioned from a conventional philosophical and intellectual approach to a performance based one. Nevertheless, they are still unable to supply the labor market with qualified graduates. To improve the educational system, the Kazakhstan government prioritizes technical subjects and science. Therefore, it is important to identify the STEM graduates’ critical skills needed for successful employment. While employers' expectations of STEM graduates’ skills have been researched globally, there have been relatively few studies in Kazakhstan.....