Students' Perspectives on Future Employment: A Qualitative Study on Indonesian Higher Education Institutions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Muhammad Haekal Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry, Indonesia
  • Ahmad Arief Muttaqien The University of Adelaide, Australia
  • Ainal Fitri Universitas Serambi Mekkah, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v13i1.502

Keywords:

COVID-19, educational leadership, employment, higher education, undergraduate student

Abstract

This study aims to determine how undergraduate students at Indonesian higher education institutions think about future jobs associated with aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in precariat work. It involved twenty students from two public universities located in Aceh, Indonesia. Online in-depth interviews were used as the data collection methods. Additionally, Snyder’s hope theory was utilised as a theoretical framework for this qualitative study. The theory would be useful in understanding the students’ insights related to the precarity of the future job, especially in the aspect of goals, pathway, and agency. The study found that despite having a lack of visualisation towards the future, the undergraduate students generally believed that COVID-19 and precarious working arrangements were serious challenges towards future employment. Academic achievements such as high grades might not be sufficient unless supplemented by substantial organisational skills, vast networking, and a resilient entrepreneurial mentality. This study also underlined the vital role of higher education institutions in strategically preparing their students to face the unpredictability and precariousness of the future job marketplace.

Author Biographies

Muhammad Haekal, Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry

Muhammad Haekal is a lecturer at Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Ar-Raniry, Indonesia. He studied Educational Leadership and Policy at Monash University, Australia. He has research interests in educational policy, leadership and management, COVID-19, social inclusion, and gender equity issues in education.

Ahmad Arief Muttaqien, The University of Adelaide

Ahmad Arief Muttaqien is a postgraduate student at the School of Education, Faculty of Arts, The University of Adelaide. His research interest is the well-being issue in education.

Ainal Fitri, Universitas Serambi Mekkah

Ainal Fitri is a lecturer at the Department of Communication, the Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universitas Serambi Mekkah. She has research interests in communication and gender studies.

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Published

2021-05-27

How to Cite

Haekal, M., Muttaqien, A. A., & Fitri, A. (2021). Students’ Perspectives on Future Employment: A Qualitative Study on Indonesian Higher Education Institutions during the COVID-19 Pandemic. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 13(1), 417–424. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v13i1.502

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2021): AL-ISHLAH: JURNAL PENDIDIKAN

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Articles

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