CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Office technology and management is a program is an educational program that prepares students for entry into advancement in jobs within business and prepares them to handle their own business affairs and to function intelligently as customers and citizens in business economy. Umoru and Zakka (2019) describes office technology and management program as a program of instruction which offers specialized instruction for office occupations and general business orientation. Baba and Akaralu (2012) are also of the opinion that OTM is used as a comprehensive team referring to aspects of educational process involving addition to general education, the study of related technologies and related science and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of the economic and social life. OTM as a vocational subject is designed to prepare students for the world of work both as employees and as employers of labor. Emotional intelligence is a strategy for improving employability competencies acquisition of  OTM  graduates. Team work is a strategy for improving employability competencies of OTM graduates.

Today, higher educational institutions are facing different challenges to equip graduates with correct competencies and attitudes required in the work environment (Ume Amen, 2014). The world of work has changed dramatically, technology has revolutionalize every aspect of office environment societies are becoming more global and multicultural with the rise of globalization. Employability is becoming one of the main goals of educational systems. This is due to the dual challenges of competing in a labor market and rapid technological advancements which necessitates a design of the workplace and requires a behavior and orientation toward work that go beyond step by step task performance. Saald and Majid (2014), noted that in this challenging environment the role of tertiary institutions is not only to produce graduates with specific areas of specialization but more importantly, to develop graduates employability  skills that match the demands of employers of labour. As such, polytechnics are under intense pressure from the stakeholders especially, industries to equip graduates with more than just academic skills. Skills have become increasingly important in the globalized world. The shifting demand for competencies has necessitated the availability of highly  skilled manpower problem based solving is strategy for improving employability competencies for office technology and management graduates in Afikpo North local government business offices. Social intelligence strategy for improving employability competencies of OTM graduates in Afikpo North local government business offices.

Skills development is essentials for increasing the productivity and sustainability of enterprises and improving workers. Vocational and technical competencies are highly required by employers of labour, the employers would continue to seek for someone who is well equipped with vocational and technical knowledge, attitude who can adapt, read, write and compute competently, listen and communicate effectively, think creatively, solve problems independently, manage themselves at work, interact with co-workers in teams or groups, manipulate and care for technologies available in the office, lead effectively as well as follow instructions. These are competencies for employability are both important to employers recruitment and enhance individuals ability to secure jobs, retain employment and move flexibly in the labor market as well as engage in life learning.

According to Schrender and Coetzee (2011) employability refers to an individual capacity and willingness to become and remain attractive in the labor market. It also refers to the individual capability to be successful in a wide range of jobs. It is also about being capable of getting and creating and keeping fulfilling job and having the knowledge, understanding, skills, experience and personal attributes that make a person more likely to choose and secure occupations in which that person can be satisfied and successful. Employability competencies refers to the basic competencies and capabilities that are needed from an individual to enable him or her get, operate and function in any job. The competence are complementary to technical competencies that are required for a particular job. Employability are basically not related to technical or academic performance but are more attached to traditional intelligence and emotional intelligence (Doron, 2012). In the view of Udofia, Ekpo, Nsa and Akpa (2012), training of students is based on the production of skillful individuals who are proficient in the production of goods and services that are not only relevant to themselves but to the society. The acquisition of a life-long competence calls for effective and efficient teaching strategies and the utilization of improved and standard instructional facilities to ensure the production of desired quality of graduates with enterprising skills. ALYN (2013) opined that teaching is a process of impacting knowledge in the classroom however, effective teaching and learning depends on the ability of the teacher to motivate learners to the peak of interest in learning. Strategies are laid down framework of plans and actions of an organization geared towards achieving its set objectives in the short and long run (Nwazor and Onokpanu, 2016). Nwazor and Onokpaunu further maintained that in the context of education strategies entails how institutions of learning equip students with the desirable competitive advantage beyond mere classroom performance to deal with the problems of the society. The quality of the teachers and the utilization of the right strategies by the teachers play an important role in improving employability competencies acquisition of the students. The teaching of OTM requires the use of instructional strategies that will encourage learning by doing thereby leading to the development of key employability competencies in an OTM laboratory, employability competencies best acquired when key features of real work condition and instructional activities are similar to those performed by workers in the workplace. The teaching of employability competencies give student capability to cope with the wide range of demands and experience they will meet in the workplace.

OTM students need employability competencies in order to be effective in their chosen field of work therefore, the teaching method adopted by the teacher in teaching and learning is very imperative for improving and developing the employability competencies of OTM students. Waziri and Olorunmolu (2013) noted that if institutions that have OTM program must achieve their goals, they must put in place quality enhancing strategies that will ensure the production of quality graduates for national development. The acquisition may take place through extra curricular activities such as sports, clubs and associations. These activities can help students develop leadership, critical thinking and teamwork abilities Chan and Murphy (2010) found that the key skills cannot be developed or learned by reading books alone. Knowledge of the key skills should be strengthened through instruction and demonstrations and by providing opportunities for practice.

Statement of the Problem

Some graduates of OTM are unable to find something doing because that lack the necessary employability competence required. For white collar jobs or for self-employment. Despite the importance of broader skills on the employability of fresh graduates in Nigerian labor market, it is unfortunate that responses of employers of labor reveal that recent graduates are not yet ready to enter and face the complexities and challenges of the world of work in the era of modern technology (Thymn, 2011). This is because, the graduates are seemingly deficient in the transferable competence required of the workforce in the era of modern technology. These difficulties include defining skills, measuring, achieving authentic learning and transfer of acquired competencies in graduates from the classrooms to the workplace, thus leading to low productivity. This scenario prompted the researcher to improving employability competencies acquisition of office technology and management students in polytechnic in Ebonyi State, Afikpo North  Local Government.

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to determine strategies for improving employability competencies acquired by office technology and management graduates in selected business offices in Afikpo south local government area sort to ascertain specifically the study.

1. Emotional intelligence strategy for improving employability competencies acquisition of OTM graduates In selected business offices in Afikpo south.
2. Social intelligence strategy for improving employability competence of OTM graduates in selected business in Afikpo South.
3. Team work strategy for improving employability competencies of OTM graduates in selected business offices in Afikpo South.
4. Problem solving strategy for improving employability competences for office technology and management graduates in selected business offices in Afikpo South.