Factors Affecting Business Management Graduate Skills to Meet Industry Demand: Evidence from Non-State Higher Educational Institutes in the Central Province, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study examines the key factors; Curriculum Relevance, Industry–Academia Collaboration, Soft Skill Development, Digital Skills, Faculty Expertise, and Access to Real-World Learning which influencing the Skills of Business Management graduates to meet industry demand within non-state higher educational institutes in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Adopting a quantitative, descriptive, and explanatory research design, primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 80 Business Management graduates from three non-state universities in Central Province Sri Lanka. Responses were measured using a five-point Likert scale, and data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics through reliability testing, validity testing, correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that the overall model was statistically significant, explaining 61.7% of the variance in Graduate Skills matching Industry Demand (GSID). Among the predictors, Digital Skills and Soft Skill Development emerged as the most significant determinants of graduates’ alignment with industry needs, while Access to Real-World Learning showed a moderate effect. Other factors, including Curriculum Relevance, Industry–Academia Collaboration, and Faculty Expertise, were found to have positive but statistically insignificant relationships with GSID. The study concludes that bridging the gap between university learning and workplace expectations requires a strategic focus on digital transformation, experiential learning, and soft skill integration within higher education programs.