Enhancing College Students' Employability in Higher Education: Exploring the Issues of Applying Project-Based Learning in Training Courses

Abstract

With the rapid development of the social economy and the advent of the knowledge economy, enhancing college students' employability has become a critical focus in higher education. Employability not only influences students' personal and career development but also impacts the national innovation system and economic growth. This study examines the employability of students at Liuzhou Vocational and Technical College, with a specific focus on the implementation of project-based learning (PBL) in training courses. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study surveyed 300 2024 Graduaes and 200 alumni from various majors, and engaged 10 companies that employ the college's graduates through an online questionnaire. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with 7 companies to explore their perspectives on the employability of graduates. The findings indicate that while students demonstrate strong theoretical knowledge, they often lack critical soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, interpersonal communication, and coordination. This paper proposes the integration of project-based learning into training courses as a practical solution to bridge these gaps and improve students' employability by fostering real-world problem-solving and collaborative skills.