Measuring the mediating role of quality education for ensuring employability skills: An analysis of higher education student perception in Bangladesh

competence of respondents (i.e. students) is measured before, though, and after the academic program, could provide us with a more holistic understanding of the subject matter. Secondly, the language of the questionnaire needed to be bilingual. However, it is safe to assume that pri- vate university students in Bangladesh are well-versed in English. However, as citizens of a country where English is not the native language, a bilingual questionnaire might have allowed the respondents to understand the items better. Thirdly, the study focused on respondents from only one private university, which could have limited the generalizability of the findings. Future researchers could focus on a broader sampling frame to enhance generalizability. Finally, publication bias may have been an issue in the present study, as reports with irrelevant conclusions may have yet to be disseminated. Conclusion This research measured the quality of education within private universities in Bangladesh to ensure employability skills. Through a quantitative study of student perception, the paper fur- ther proposes a mediating role of quality education in shaping and ensuring the employability skills of HE students in Bangladesh. The study further underscores the significance of a holistic educational experience in fostering the diverse skill set demanded by the contemporary job market. Quality education, as perceived by students, extends beyond the traditional academic curriculum, emphasising the physical aspects, and policy of the university administration.

These elements collectively contribute to the employability skills development of students and enhance their readiness for the workforce. The findings reveal an alarming gap within Bangladesh’s education system that may even threaten the country’s economic growth and stability. As more students enrol in private HEIs, it must be impervious to the administration and faculty to ensure that a critical level of impor- tance is given to industry-related skills within the courses taught and the facilities provided by the university. Students are key stakeholders in understanding these disparities. While it is understandable that different HEIs will have multiple challenges, the governing body for HEIs, the University Grants Commission (UGC), can implement strict policies to instil work-based learning and SCL to influence the development of employability skills in students. The insights gained from this research can serve as a foundation for further investigations and initiatives to optimise the quality of education and enhance the employability skills of HE students in Bangladesh. Students must be made aware of the industry skills that they may learn from the courses offered by HEIs, which is only possible through the collective efforts of other stakeholders, culminating in industry-academia collaborations, curriculum enhancements, and a HE policy that maintains strict adherence to contemporary needs of the job market. The findings imply that HEIs in Bangladesh could focus on enhancing the quality of education by

improving course structure, institutional policy, and physical aspects that could lead to higher employability skills among the graduates. This should assist HEIs in developing industry- ready global graduates. As Bangladesh continues to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by a rap- idly evolving global economy, understanding the pivotal role of education in shaping a future- ready workforce becomes paramount. The role of HEIs is nurturing competitive candidates in the job industry. Supporting information S1 Data. (XLSX) PLOS ONE Measuring the mediating role of quality education for ensuring employability skills PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310815 October 7, 2024 14 / 18