Perceived relationship between the preparedness of university graduates and their productivity at insurance companies in Kenya

Abstract

Universities can prepare students for a range of professional roles by considering how their curricula, teaching, and other practices contribute to developing skills that are valued by employers. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between the preparedness of university graduates and their productivity in insurance companies in Kenya. The study adopted a cross sectional survey study design. The study population comprised of 46 registered insurance companies in Kenya by IRA. The study made use primary data. Primary data was obtained using questionnaires. The respondents comprised of human resource managers in 46 insurance companies in Kenya. The questionnaires were administered through personal contact to allow for further probing. The questionnaires were dropped and picked latter by the research assistant. Quantitative data analysis was used. Quantitative data collected was tabulated and analyzed using percentages and frequencies. Responses were analyzed and reported using simple statistic such as frequencies and percentages. The study used correlation to establish the perceived relationship between the preparedness of university graduates and their productivity at insurance companies in Kenya. The study findings established that the labour market has changed noticeably over the years due to the information and technology revolution. The graduates‟ preparedness involves acquiring appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies in the IT insurance sector and that acquiring skills of the graduates starts at the school level to the practical knowledge in participating in the work experience, providing them first-hand experience in the job market. The study concludes that there is a very strong relationship between the preparedness of university graduates and their productivity at insurance companies in Kenya.