Designing Employability-Oriented Curriculum in English Studies: A Skill-Based Approach

Abstract

In today's competitive global job market, the value of a college degree goes beyond just imparting factual information; it also involves developing marketable abilities. English Studies, previously centered on literature and cultural knowledge acquisition, is now required to be aligned with industry requirements and skill acquisition. The purpose of this article is to investigate the incorporation of employability skills into the curriculum designed for English Studies programs. This study investigates the ways in which students might benefit from a literature-based education in terms of developing abilities that are essential in a variety of business sectors, including critical thinking, communication, creativity, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and problem-solving. The research proposes an employability-based English Studies program curriculum framework that incorporates literature-based knowledge acquisition and industry-based skill acquisition. This research has provided significant insights into how to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge of literature and the development of practical abilities in the workplace. This has been accomplished by reframing English Studies as a field of study that is dynamic. The study has offered important suggestions for rethinking English Studies as a transformational curriculum framework that prioritises career development and lifelong learning, in addition to literature-based knowledge acquisition as cultural capital.