Preparing University Graduates for the Labour Market Through Employability Skills Development and University–Industry Collaboration: A Systematic Review

Graduate employability has become a central concern for higher education institutions as labour markets undergo rapid transformation driven by digitalisation, technological change, and evolving organisational practices. Universities are increasingly expected to equip graduates with a broad range of employability skills and to collaborate with industry to enhance labour market readiness. However, existing research on employability skills development and university-industry collaboration remains fragmented across disciplines, contexts, and stakeholder perspectives. This systematic review synthesises evidence on how universities prepare their graduates for the labour market through employability skills development and university-industry collaboration. Following PRISMA guidelines, 84 journal articles and conference papers published between 2015 and 2025 were identified through a systematic search of the Scopus database and analysed thematically. The findings reveal that graduate employability is conceptualised as a multidimensional and context-dependent construct encompassing discipline-specific, transversal, digital, career management, and professional disposition-related skills. Employability skills development is most strongly supported through pedagogical approaches that emphasise authentic engagement with professional contexts, including work-integrated learning, project- and challenge-based learning, and technology-mediated collaboration. Reported outcomes extend beyond immediate employment metrics to include enhanced confidence, skills acquisition, employability awareness, curriculum relevance, and organisational learning. However, the effectiveness and sustainability of these initiatives are shaped by structural and institutional conditions, including policy frameworks, resourcing, partnership coordination, and equity of access. The review contributes an integrative synthesis that connects employability skills, pedagogical design, and university-industry collaboration, and outlines implications for policy, educational practice, and future research.