Exploration Pathways for Cultivating University Graduates’ Employability Based on Enterprise Needs

With the annual increase in the number of university graduates, the issue of graduate employment has become a hot topic of widespread social concern in Chinese society. The difficulty of securing employment for university graduates is also a key challenge that universities must address. The challenges of university graduate employment can be attributed to both external and internal factors. While external factors are largely beyond the control of individual students, internal factors are closely tied to personal development. Therefore, this study started from the needs of enterprises and institutions and conducted a questionnaire survey of 423 enterprises and institutions nationwide through University of Science and Technology Beijing. Statistical analysis was used to systematically explore the characteristics and variations in enterprises’ demands for graduate employability. The findings reveal that currently, enterprises most value university graduates’ execution skills, teamwork abilities, and problem-solving capabilities. Significant differences exist across industries, and state-owned enterprises and private enterprises emphasizing distinct competencies. Based on these findings, the study proposes a competency development pathway for university graduates grounded in enterprise needs, structured around four dimensions: “clarifying demands, optimizing training, strengthening collaboration, and building awareness” This framework provides practical guidance for universities to enhance targeted education and for students to boost their employability, thereby supporting the implementation of the national high-quality employment strategy.