IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/rnd/arjebs/v17y2025i4p49-58.html

Human Capital and Graduate Employability in Public Universities in South- Western Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Alex Twinomuhwezi
  • Nixon Kamukama
  • Charles Tushabomwe-Kazooba

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between human capital and graduate employability in public universities in South-Western Uganda. It aims to provide empirical evidence on how university human capital influences graduates’ labor-market readiness. Guided by a positivist paradigm, a cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected from 377 graduates and 122 academic and administrative staff across three public universities. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationship between human capital and graduate employability. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between human capital and graduate employability. Universities with skilled, motivated, and professionally competent staff enhance graduates’ employability by developing relevant skills and supporting processes that ensure these skills are effectively acquired. Deficiencies in human capital constrain the development of employability outcomes. University leaders should strategically invest in human capital through targeted recruitment, continuous professional development, and performance management linked to employability outcomes. Curricula should embed employer-valued skills such as critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. Strengthening institutional employability support, including career services and industry engagement, is critical for translating staff capacity into labor-market-ready graduates. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the central role of academic and administrative staff in shaping graduate employability in resource-constrained public universities. It provides context-specific evidence from Uganda, clarifying how staff competence, motivation, and leadership collectively influence labor-market outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Twinomuhwezi & Nixon Kamukama & Charles Tushabomwe-Kazooba, 2025. "Human Capital and Graduate Employability in Public Universities in South- Western Uganda," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 17(4), pages 49-58.
    • Handle: RePEc:rnd:arjebs:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:49-58
    DOI: 10.22610/jebs.v17i4(j).4809
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ojs.amhinternational.com/index.php/jebs/article/view/4809/3195
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://ojs.amhinternational.com/index.php/jebs/article/view/4809
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22610/jebs.v17i4(j).4809?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marta Abelha & Sandra Fernandes & Diana Mesquita & Filipa Seabra & Ana Teresa Ferreira-Oliveira, 2020. "Graduate Employability and Competence Development in Higher Education—A Systematic Literature Review Using PRISMA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-27, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hanna Górska-Warsewicz, 2022. "Consumer or Patient Determinants of Hospital Brand Equity—A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-36, July.
    2. Sandra Carrasco & David O’Brien, 2023. "Build Back Safely: Evaluating the Occupational Health and Safety in Post-Disaster Reconstruction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Júlia Santos Humberto & Christian Eric Barrantes Briceño & Lucas Gabriel Zanon & Marcelo Seido Nagano, 2025. "Exploring the Barriers to Circular Economy Implementation in Agricultural Sector: A Way Forward to Achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger)," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(6), pages 4819-4857, November.
    4. Venessa S. Casanova & Wenceslao M. Paguia, 2022. "Employability and Job Performance of Graduates of Occidental Mindoro State College Graduate School," Higher Education Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(2), pages 193-193, May.
    5. Francesca Gori & Alessandra Castellini, 2023. "Alternative Food Networks and Short Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review Based on a Case Study Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Claudio Roberto Silva Júnior & Julio Cezar Mairesse Siluk & Alvaro Luis Neuenfeldt-Júnior & Matheus Binotto Francescatto & Cláudia de Freitas Michelin, 2023. "Mapping Risks Faced by Startup Investors: An Approach Based on the Apriori Algorithm," Risks, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, October.
    7. Raechel J Hill & Matea A Djokic & Andrea Anderson & Kristin Barbour & Amanda M Coleman & Alexis D Guerra & Courtney Hunt & Amber Jolly & Jennifer J Long & Kyle T Manley & Jonathan L Montoya & Carl A N, 2024. "From Ridge 2 Reef: An interdisciplinary model for training the next generation of environmental problem solvers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(12), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Yi Lu & Gayani Karunasena & Chunlu Liu, 2022. "A Systematic Literature Review of Non-Compliance with Low-Carbon Building Regulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Diah Chaerani & Adibah Shuib & Tomy Perdana & Athaya Zahrani Irmansyah, 2023. "Systematic Literature Review on Robust Optimization in Solving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, March.
    10. Ting Wu & Qin Lai & Nan Ma & Yixuan Shao, 2022. "Surviving uncertainty: A dual-path model of personal initiative affecting graduate employability," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(7), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Gisselle G. Manahan & Kate Angel M. Fajutrao & Mark Brian L. Morante & Dr. Madonna P. Melchor & Zernan R. Maling, 2026. "Evaluating Job Performance Competence of Hospitality Management Graduates: Employer Perspectives from a Philippine State University," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 10(2), pages 267-275, February.
    12. Bhardwaj, Shikha & Rana, Gunjan A & Behl, Abhishek & Gallego de Caceres, Santiago Juan, 2023. "Exploring the boundaries of Neuromarketing through systematic investigation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    13. Kelvin Mwita & Shauri Kinunda & Silas Obwolo & Nivad Mwilongo, 2023. "Soft skills development in higher education institutions: Students’ perceived role of universities and students’ self-initiatives in bridging the soft skills gap," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(3), pages 505-513, April.
    14. Matsika, Cyncia & Zhou, Munyaradzi, 2021. "Factors affecting the adoption and use of AVR technology in higher and tertiary education," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    15. Gunjan A Rana & Chetan Sharma & Sunil Kumar & Vijay Rathee, 2025. "Entrepreneurial and leadership orientation towards a sustainable growth -a systematic literature review of the initiatives and approach," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    16. Vesna Ferk Savec & Katarina Mlinarec, 2021. "Experimental Work in Science Education from Green Chemistry Perspectives: A Systematic Literature Review Using PRISMA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-50, November.
    17. Atubi Onamrewho FAVOUR, 2021. "Dissonance In Employability Social Skills Of Social Studies Undergraduates And The World Of Work In Nigeria," Social Sciences and Education Research Review, Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova, vol. 8(1), pages 84-101, July.
    18. Hanna Górska-Warsewicz & Maciej Dębski & Michal Fabuš & Marián Kováč, 2021. "Green Brand Equity—Empirical Experience from a Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-34, October.
    19. Efrat, Alon, 2022. "A significant improvement was found in the Emotional stability following the training. Participating in the training changed the way people associate personality traits with Interaction management," MPRA Paper 118558, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Wichuda Kunnu & Pimsiri Taylor, 2025. "Developing Transversal Competencies through Blended Learning: A Phenomenological Study of Thai Undergraduate Students," Higher Education Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(3), pages 332-332, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:rnd:arjebs:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:49-58. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Muhammad Tayyab (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ojs.amhinternational.com/index.php/jebs .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.