Career Growth and Employability of Graduates from the External Degree Programs in Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura: A Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Study

This study investigates how external degree programs in Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura influences graduates’ employability and career life advancement. In this research qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data, has been used to find in-depth answers. Mixed-methods approach revels a whole picture of the professional development, job satisfaction, and career paths of the graduates and underlying reasons. This research reveal 60% of graduates reported pay increases, 70% of them reported career advancement within three years and those success has been reported mostly in sectors including education, social services, and NGOs. Further this research reveals and highlight issues including a lack of industry-specific skills and limited networking opportunities that hinder professional development particularly in the corporate sector. Emphasizing the need of more practical training, industry experience, and better career services, graduates. The results suggest that although external degrees give strong intellectual basis, further increase employability outcomes depend on improvements in curriculum alignment with industry demands, practical training, and career support, not on strong academic basis. These insights enable the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to design increasingly effective curricula.