ePortfolios as a Tool for Improving the Transition from Agri-Student to Employee: A Western Australian Employability Snapshot

Abstract

Future tertiary graduates will likely face increased job mobility and evolving workplace standards. Agribusinesses face significant challenges including a recognised skills shortage and more complex skill requirements due to technological advancements and globalisation. Agricultural discipline graduates must demonstrate proficiency in both technical and employability skills to meet these challenges. Universities have responded by incorporating transferrable skills and employability frameworks into graduate attributes and encouraging and supporting students to develop employability skills and professional identities through curriculum design, authentic assessment, and relevant extracurricular activities. However, given the variety of work-integrated learning experiences that graduates undertake, it is challenging to address how capabilities found in tertiary agribusiness degrees might be compiled and presented to stakeholders, including students themselves, who may not comprehend the nuances in depth and breadth of the curated student experience. This snapshot provides insights into employer and student perceptions of Agribusiness student graduate skills, identifying overlaps, differences, and tensions. Integrating ePortfolios can offer a solution, allowing students to showcase their learning journey and experiences digitally. This tool can support students in evidencing their abilities when applying for jobs. Recommendations are made for collecting evidence in agribusiness ePortfolios to demonstrate learning, proficiency, and transferable skills, improving student outcomes and transparency for employers.