Are Graduates Digitally Unprepared?—A Digital Technology Gap Analysis From Alumni and Employer's Perspectives.

Background: The digital literacy landscape has undergone significant changes over the last 5 years, from the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic to the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The COVID‐19 pandemic hastened the necessity for advanced digital skills for remote work and onl...

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Publicado en:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 1 - 14
Autores principales: Zhou, Xue, Wolstencroft, Peter, Schofield, Lilian N., Fang, Lei
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Aug2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Aug2025
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
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        10.1111/jcal.70046
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        atl: Are Graduates Digitally Unprepared?—A Digital Technology Gap Analysis From Alumni and Employer's Perspectives.
      aug:
        au:
          Zhou, Xue
          Wolstencroft, Peter
          Schofield, Lilian N.
          Fang, Lei
        affil: University of Leicester, College of Business, Leicester, UK
      sug:
        subj:
          Digital Technology
          Education, Masters
          Educational Measurement
          Employment
          Communication Skills
          Professional Competence
          Artificial Intelligence
          COVID-19 Pandemic
          Alumni Psychosocial Factors
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Adult
          Age Factors
          Interviews
          Lifelong Learning
          Problem-Based Learning
          United Kingdom
          Thematic Analysis
          Professionalism
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: The digital literacy landscape has undergone significant changes over the last 5 years, from the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic to the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The COVID‐19 pandemic hastened the necessity for advanced digital skills for remote work and online collaboration, while the current AI era demands proficiency in new technologies and an understanding of their ethical implications. The digital deficit and the need to align university education with industry demands, especially in this era of fast‐changing technology and the advancement of generative AI, are still subjects of ongoing debate and are the motivation for this paper. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on digital literacy by providing actionable insights for enhancing digital competencies in higher education and bridging the digital gap. Objectives: This study examines the digital literacy gaps among university graduates from the alumni and employers' perspectives. The study aims to understand the digital gap and how employers' and alumni expectations regarding employees' digital skills and literacy have evolved during COVID‐19 and the current AI era. Methods: The data were gathered through interviews with alumni and employers. Forty interviews were conducted to evaluate graduates' current readiness. Results and Conclusions: Our data reveals digital deficiencies, particularly in areas such as digital identity and well‐being, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions. The study proposes strengthening strategies such as work‐integrated learning and lifelong learning so universities can better equip graduates to meet the evolving demands of the digital economy.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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