TITLE:
The Compatibility of Higher Education Outcomes with the Requirements of the Labour Market in an Interior Design Programme in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
AUTHORS:
Abeer Abdulaziz Al-Awad, Riham Saeed Bazuhair, Rawan Abdullatif Alhojaly, Maram Mohammed Mossawa
KEYWORDS:
Higher Education, Academic Programmes, Interior Designer, Interior Design, Professional Practice, Labour Market
JOURNAL NAME:
Art and Design Review,
Vol.8 No.2,
April
23,
2020
ABSTRACT: This study aimed to explore the compatibility between the outcomes of academic interior design programmes and the needs of the labour market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to fill gaps and ensure sustainable development. The study reviewed nineteen academic interior design programmes in different regions, both public and private institutions, and distributed two questionnaires to graduates and employees that assessed seven stages related to the design process and project management. The sample in this study consisted of sixty graduates and nineteen employers in the fields of design or architecture who hire local interior designers. The results indicated that interior design programmes do not fulfill the needs of the market because some regions do not have interior design programmes or the programmes are limited to women, and the image of interior design professions is not clear in some regions due to limited information in the community. Some study plans need to be updated and reviewed based on the latest changes in the labour market. The results also showed that graduates had good knowledge of and skills in the field of interior design, with some shortfalls in the project management skills required in the labour market, such as budget calculations and writing work contracts, timetables, and reports. This limitation may be due to a lack of communication between institutions and the labour market and weak academic guidance for students when choosing elective courses that support these skills. Finally, it is clear that the graduates had good communication, negotiation, persuasion and decision-making skills. The result of this study should help administrators of interior design programmes develop curricula that fulfill the needs of the labour market and help enrolled students increase their knowledge and skills. Finally, the results can inform employers about the necessary training for their interior designers.