Minten, Susan Rosemary (2008) Graduate Employability in the Sport and Recreation Industry: An analysis of the transition from Higher Education to the workplace. PhD thesis, University of Sheffield.
Abstract
Over the last 15 years there has been a rapid expansion in sport related degrees with concerns raised about the appropriateness of sport graduates to the sport industry. In contrast, a number ofreports have identified the need for a higher skilled sports workforce. Consequently, the aim ofthis study is to investigate the employability of sport related graduates in the sport ind~try, through an analysis ofthe 'factors affecting the transition of the graduate from undergrilduate studies to employment in the sport industry. This study comprises of two phases. Phase One used surveys to examine the patterns of employment and experiences of sport graduates (n=294), and the attributes and career expectations of sport students (n= 585). Focus groups of sport students (9 groups) and HE staff (4 groups) were undertaken to gain further insight into the motivations and expectations of students and the nature of sport courses. The surveys found that 37% of sport graduates were employed in sport and these tended to be low level jobs that did not tend to utilise graduate attributes. Sports graduates were also successful in finding jobs in bther industries. The results also showed that the initial sport graduate career was dynamic with a number ofjob changes. Phase Two of the study used four case studies of graduates and found that their transition into sports employment was influenced by the interaction between the nature of the graduate, the nature ofthe job and the nature ofthe employer. A major outcome ofthe study is the development of an Interaction Model and Theory of Graduate Employability in the Sports Industry which, in contrast to other theories, suggests that graduate employability is located external to the graduate, as a synthesis' of the inter-relationship between the nature of the graduate, job and employer.
Metadata
Awarding institution: | University of Sheffield |
---|---|
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Management School (Sheffield) |
Identification Number/EthosID: | uk.bl.ethos.487593 |
Depositing User: | EThOS Import Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 31 May 2013 10:45 |
Last Modified: | 08 Aug 2013 08:52 |
Downloads
487593_VOL1.pdf
Filename: 487593_VOL1.pdf
Description: 487593_VOL1.pdf
487593_VOL2.pdf
Filename: 487593_VOL2.pdf
Description: 487593_VOL2.pdf
Export
Statistics
You do not need to contact us to get a copy of this thesis. Please use the 'Download' link(s) above to get a copy.
You can contact us about this thesis. If you need to make a general enquiry, please see the Contact us page.