Priming the Project Talent Pipeline

Examining Work Readiness in Undergraduate Project Management Degree Programs

Article Career Development, Talent Management, Resource Management, Education 1 April 2020

Project Management Journal

Borg, Jessica | Scott-Young, Christina M.

How to cite this article:

Borg, J. & Scott-Young, C. M. (2020). Priming the Project Talent Pipeline: Examining Work Readiness in Undergraduate Project Management Degree Programs. Project Management Journal, 51, 165–180. doi: https://DOI: 10.1177/8756972820904220

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Undergraduate education is emerging as a direct pathway into the previously deemed 'accidental profession' of project management. We introduce the concept of graduate work readiness and explore whether undergraduate project management degrees are imparting industry-required work-readiness attributes. Documentary analysis of 12 Australian bachelor's degree programs identified that many (but not all) of the work-ready attributes taught are consistent with those sought by industry. The results revealed that graduates' work- readiness profiles vary according to university employer reputation. The findings suggest the need for a more industry- consultative approach to the way universities prepare their graduates for the project-based workplace.

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Priming the Project Talent Pipeline

Examining Work Readiness in Undergraduate Project Management Degree Programs

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