Beyond Credentials: Perceived Employability in Korean Graduate Schools of International Studies

초록

This study examines perceived employability among graduates of South Korean Graduate Schools of International Studies (GSIS) by analyzing skill and knowledge alignment across three dimensions: student perceptions and employer demand, student perceptions and program outcomes, and program outcomes and employer demand. Drawing on a multi stakeholder research design that incorporates surveys of current students, alumni, and industry experts alongside text mining of job postings, we identify both alignment and mismatches in quantitative skills, language proficiency, report writing, and business knowledge. While GSIS programs demonstrate strengths in intercultural awareness, communication, and project management, persistent gaps suggest that credentials alone are insufficient in an increasingly competitive labor market. Informed by the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) framework as a reference point, this study takes a step toward developing a field specific skills taxonomy for international studies. By establishing a case at the intersection of perceived employability and international studies in an Asian higher education context, the study moves beyond Western centric literature and offers practical recommendations for curriculum enhancement to better prepare graduates for global careers.

키워드