COMMUNICATION GAPS AND EMPLOYABILITY OUTCOMES: EXAMINING LISTENING AND SPEAKING CHALLENGES AMONG UNDERGRADUATES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, ACCRA.

Abstract

This study explores the listening and speaking challenges faced by undergraduates at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) and examines how this communication gaps affect their perceived employability readiness. While communication skills are essential for academic and professional success, a persistent gap remains between graduate competence and industry expectations. Guided by Dell Hymes’ Ethnography of Speaking (SPEAKING) model, the study treats communication as a context-dependent social practice. The study adopted a mixed-methods survey design involving 200 undergraduate students across seven academic programmes and 10 Communication Skills lecturers. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, with quantitative data analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative responses subjected to thematic analysis. Findings reveal widespread challenges: over 60% of students struggle to follow lectures because of rapid speech and technical terminology, while 76% feel nervous during public speaking. Furthermore, 72% reported low confidence during presentations. Although students recognize the importance of oral communication for workplace success, fewer than half feel confident about their abilities during job interviews. These deficiencies significantly affect graduates’ professional readiness. The study recommends integrating sustained oral communication training across university curricula, specifically through presentation-based assessments, mock interviews, and workplace simulations, to bridge the competency gap and strengthen students’ employability skills in professional contexts.