Identifying the Dimensions and Key Components of Employability of the University Bachelor Graduates in Behavioral Science Majors: A Shahid Beheshti University Case Study

The general purpose of this study was to identify the main and secondary components of graduates' employability from the perspective of faculty members, employers, and experts in the field of employment for a bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences at Shahid Beheshti University. The present study was a qualitative research. Participants in this study are faculty members, employers and employment experts. Sampling method in qualitative research was purposive sampling of the theoretical sampling type. Among the interviewees were 15 faculty members, 12 employers, and employment-related officials. The analysis of the first interview began with open coding and finally reached theoretical saturation in interview 27. In this study, an interview tool was used to collect the required data and the interview questions were designed in a semi-structured manner. The content validity of the interviews was reviewed and confirmed by 5 higher education experts. Also, to determine the accuracy and validity of the data, three criteria of acceptability, reliability and verifiability were used. The obtained data from this study was  analysed by the thematic analysis method. A total of 94 themes related to employability were identified and finally in 15 sub-components and 4 main components of individual competencies, professional competencies, cultural competencies, and social competencies were categorized. Academic practical knowledge and skills were identified at the top of the employability components.