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Abstract
In today’s competitive employment market, graduates must be proficient in English communication to succeed professionally. Specifically, fluency in spoken English, professional writing skills, presentation skills, and interpersonal communication in English are critical factors that contribute to workplace success. This study investigates how far university graduates’ English communicative abilities contribute to their success in securing employment and performing effectively in the workplace. This paper broadly examines the needs of graduates for English communicative skills to progress in their careers. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative data. The study was conducted at three purposively selected public universities in Bangladesh: the University of Dhaka, Jagannath University, and Jahangirnagar University. 50 students were purposively sampled, and 15 industry stakeholders from private banks, multinational companies, and English-medium schools in Dhaka were interviewed to explore workplace English proficiency expectations. The findings indicate a strong correlation between English communication skills and employment opportunities. However, many graduates face challenges in professional writing, public speaking, and business communication. Furthermore, the results highlight a considerable distance between the communication demands of the professional world and the English instruction provided at the university level, which results in unpreparedness for real-world communication challenges. In this regard, in enhance graduates' global competitiveness, the study recommends urgent curriculum modifications that prioritize business-oriented communication, industry-aligned training, and real-world English applications.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Protiva Rani Karmaker, Rakib Al Hasan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Ciptaan disebarluaskan di bawah Lisensi Creative Commons Atribusi-BerbagiSerupa 4.0 Internasional.
How to Cite
Graduates’ English Communicative Skills and Professional Success: Perspectives from Universities and Industry stakeholders in Bangladesh. (2025). Journal of English Education and Teaching, 9(1), 110–127. https://doi.org/10.33369/jeet.9.1.110-127
References
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Aktar, S. (2012). The Impact of Rewards on Employee Performance in Commercial Banks of Bangladesh: An Empirical Study. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 6, 9-15.
Bharathi, A. V. (2016). Communication skills–core of employability skills: Issues and concerns. Higher Learning Research Communications, 6(4).
Broughton, G., Brumfit, C., Flavell, R. Hill, P., & Pincas, A. (2003). Teaching English as a foreign language (2nd ed). Taylor & Francis e-Library. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203412541.
Demont-Heinrich, C. (2008). American triumphalism and the “Offensive” defensiveness of the French: French as a foil for English in U.S. prestige press coverage of the global hegemony of English. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 32(3), 271-291. https://doi.org/10.1177/0196859908316652.
Enosh, G., Tzafrir, S. S., & Stolovy, T. (2014). The development of client violence questionnaire (CVQ). Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 9(3), 273-290. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689814525263.
Fatema, K., & Sultana, N. (2020). A survey on technology used in higher secondary EFL class in Bangladesh. Middle Eastern Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, 1(2), 52-66. https://doi.org/10.47631/mejress.v1i2.54.
Hamid, M. O. (2010). Globalisation, English for everyone and English teacher capacity: Language policy discourses and realities in Bangladesh. Current Issues in Language Planning, 11(4), 289–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664208.2011.532621.
Hendarman. (2010). Incorporation of employability skills in teaching-learning process within TVE schools. Paper presented at the 1st UPI International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education (pp. 301-309). Bandung: Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.
Juhdi, N., Jauhariah, A., & Yunus, S. (2007). A study on employability skills of university graduates. The Business Wallpaper, 2(1), 1-6.
Kabir, M. H. (2015). The importance of English language proficiency for employment: The case of university graduates in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Management Sciences and Education, 4(2), 1–9.
Krhutova, M. (2009). Parameters of Professional Discourse. Lambert Academic Publishing
National Curriculum and Textbook Board. (2012). National curriculum. Dhaka, Bangladesh: National Curriculum and Textbook Board.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Rahman, M. M., Islam, M. S., Karim, A., Chowdhury, T. A., Rahman, M. M., Seraj, P. M. I., & Singh, M. K. M. (2019). English language teaching in Bangladesh today: Issues, outcomes and implications. Language Testing in Asia, 9(9), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-019-0085-8.
Rahman, M. M., & Pandian, A. (2018). A critical investigation of English language teaching in Bangladesh: Unfulfilled expectations after two decades of communicative language teaching. English Today, 34(3), 43-49.
Rao, P. S. (2019). The role of English as a global language. Research Journal of English (RJOE), 4(1), 65-79.
Roshid, M. M., & Chowdhury, R. (2013). English language proficiency and employment: A case study of Bangladeshi graduates in Australian employment market. Online Submission, 3(1), 68-81.
Spencer-Oatey, H. (2013). Global competencies and intercultural communication for global leadership development. University of Warwick.
Stiglitz, Joseph E. Globalization and Its Discontents. New York: W.W. Norton, 2002.
Sultana, N., Sultana, F., & Zakaria, D. (2019). An Evaluation of Fundamental English Courses, a Scrutiny of their Effectiveness at an Engineering University, Bangladesh. International Journal of English and Literature, 9(3), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.24247/ijeljun20195.
Suna, Y., & Durmuşçelebi, M. (2013). A compilation work about why turkey suffers from learning and teaching English. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 3(5), 31-48.
Tirumala, B. V. S. (2020). English language proficiency and employment outcomes: Evidence from India. International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies, 9(1), 1–14.
Torres, L., Routon, P.W., Hartley, P. (2019). International business students’ perceptions of skill development through undergraduate education. Journal of International Business Education, 14, 161- 180.
Zeigler, R. (2007). Student perceptions of "soft" skills in Mechanical Engineering. ICEE 2007 Conference. Retrieved 5 October 2008, from http://icee2007.dei.uc.pt/proceedings/papers/505.pdf
References
Aktar, S. (2012). The Impact of Rewards on Employee Performance in Commercial Banks of Bangladesh: An Empirical Study. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 6, 9-15.
Bharathi, A. V. (2016). Communication skills–core of employability skills: Issues and concerns. Higher Learning Research Communications, 6(4).
Broughton, G., Brumfit, C., Flavell, R. Hill, P., & Pincas, A. (2003). Teaching English as a foreign language (2nd ed). Taylor & Francis e-Library. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203412541.
Demont-Heinrich, C. (2008). American triumphalism and the “Offensive” defensiveness of the French: French as a foil for English in U.S. prestige press coverage of the global hegemony of English. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 32(3), 271-291. https://doi.org/10.1177/0196859908316652.
Enosh, G., Tzafrir, S. S., & Stolovy, T. (2014). The development of client violence questionnaire (CVQ). Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 9(3), 273-290. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689814525263.
Fatema, K., & Sultana, N. (2020). A survey on technology used in higher secondary EFL class in Bangladesh. Middle Eastern Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, 1(2), 52-66. https://doi.org/10.47631/mejress.v1i2.54.
Hamid, M. O. (2010). Globalisation, English for everyone and English teacher capacity: Language policy discourses and realities in Bangladesh. Current Issues in Language Planning, 11(4), 289–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664208.2011.532621.
Hendarman. (2010). Incorporation of employability skills in teaching-learning process within TVE schools. Paper presented at the 1st UPI International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education (pp. 301-309). Bandung: Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.
Juhdi, N., Jauhariah, A., & Yunus, S. (2007). A study on employability skills of university graduates. The Business Wallpaper, 2(1), 1-6.
Kabir, M. H. (2015). The importance of English language proficiency for employment: The case of university graduates in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Management Sciences and Education, 4(2), 1–9.
Krhutova, M. (2009). Parameters of Professional Discourse. Lambert Academic Publishing
National Curriculum and Textbook Board. (2012). National curriculum. Dhaka, Bangladesh: National Curriculum and Textbook Board.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Rahman, M. M., Islam, M. S., Karim, A., Chowdhury, T. A., Rahman, M. M., Seraj, P. M. I., & Singh, M. K. M. (2019). English language teaching in Bangladesh today: Issues, outcomes and implications. Language Testing in Asia, 9(9), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-019-0085-8.
Rahman, M. M., & Pandian, A. (2018). A critical investigation of English language teaching in Bangladesh: Unfulfilled expectations after two decades of communicative language teaching. English Today, 34(3), 43-49.
Rao, P. S. (2019). The role of English as a global language. Research Journal of English (RJOE), 4(1), 65-79.
Roshid, M. M., & Chowdhury, R. (2013). English language proficiency and employment: A case study of Bangladeshi graduates in Australian employment market. Online Submission, 3(1), 68-81.
Spencer-Oatey, H. (2013). Global competencies and intercultural communication for global leadership development. University of Warwick.
Stiglitz, Joseph E. Globalization and Its Discontents. New York: W.W. Norton, 2002.
Sultana, N., Sultana, F., & Zakaria, D. (2019). An Evaluation of Fundamental English Courses, a Scrutiny of their Effectiveness at an Engineering University, Bangladesh. International Journal of English and Literature, 9(3), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.24247/ijeljun20195.
Suna, Y., & Durmuşçelebi, M. (2013). A compilation work about why turkey suffers from learning and teaching English. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 3(5), 31-48.
Tirumala, B. V. S. (2020). English language proficiency and employment outcomes: Evidence from India. International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies, 9(1), 1–14.
Torres, L., Routon, P.W., Hartley, P. (2019). International business students’ perceptions of skill development through undergraduate education. Journal of International Business Education, 14, 161- 180.
Zeigler, R. (2007). Student perceptions of "soft" skills in Mechanical Engineering. ICEE 2007 Conference. Retrieved 5 October 2008, from http://icee2007.dei.uc.pt/proceedings/papers/505.pdf
Bharathi, A. V. (2016). Communication skills–core of employability skills: Issues and concerns. Higher Learning Research Communications, 6(4).
Broughton, G., Brumfit, C., Flavell, R. Hill, P., & Pincas, A. (2003). Teaching English as a foreign language (2nd ed). Taylor & Francis e-Library. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203412541.
Demont-Heinrich, C. (2008). American triumphalism and the “Offensive” defensiveness of the French: French as a foil for English in U.S. prestige press coverage of the global hegemony of English. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 32(3), 271-291. https://doi.org/10.1177/0196859908316652.
Enosh, G., Tzafrir, S. S., & Stolovy, T. (2014). The development of client violence questionnaire (CVQ). Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 9(3), 273-290. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689814525263.
Fatema, K., & Sultana, N. (2020). A survey on technology used in higher secondary EFL class in Bangladesh. Middle Eastern Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, 1(2), 52-66. https://doi.org/10.47631/mejress.v1i2.54.
Hamid, M. O. (2010). Globalisation, English for everyone and English teacher capacity: Language policy discourses and realities in Bangladesh. Current Issues in Language Planning, 11(4), 289–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664208.2011.532621.
Hendarman. (2010). Incorporation of employability skills in teaching-learning process within TVE schools. Paper presented at the 1st UPI International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education (pp. 301-309). Bandung: Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.
Juhdi, N., Jauhariah, A., & Yunus, S. (2007). A study on employability skills of university graduates. The Business Wallpaper, 2(1), 1-6.
Kabir, M. H. (2015). The importance of English language proficiency for employment: The case of university graduates in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Management Sciences and Education, 4(2), 1–9.
Krhutova, M. (2009). Parameters of Professional Discourse. Lambert Academic Publishing
National Curriculum and Textbook Board. (2012). National curriculum. Dhaka, Bangladesh: National Curriculum and Textbook Board.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Rahman, M. M., Islam, M. S., Karim, A., Chowdhury, T. A., Rahman, M. M., Seraj, P. M. I., & Singh, M. K. M. (2019). English language teaching in Bangladesh today: Issues, outcomes and implications. Language Testing in Asia, 9(9), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-019-0085-8.
Rahman, M. M., & Pandian, A. (2018). A critical investigation of English language teaching in Bangladesh: Unfulfilled expectations after two decades of communicative language teaching. English Today, 34(3), 43-49.
Rao, P. S. (2019). The role of English as a global language. Research Journal of English (RJOE), 4(1), 65-79.
Roshid, M. M., & Chowdhury, R. (2013). English language proficiency and employment: A case study of Bangladeshi graduates in Australian employment market. Online Submission, 3(1), 68-81.
Spencer-Oatey, H. (2013). Global competencies and intercultural communication for global leadership development. University of Warwick.
Stiglitz, Joseph E. Globalization and Its Discontents. New York: W.W. Norton, 2002.
Sultana, N., Sultana, F., & Zakaria, D. (2019). An Evaluation of Fundamental English Courses, a Scrutiny of their Effectiveness at an Engineering University, Bangladesh. International Journal of English and Literature, 9(3), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.24247/ijeljun20195.
Suna, Y., & Durmuşçelebi, M. (2013). A compilation work about why turkey suffers from learning and teaching English. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 3(5), 31-48.
Tirumala, B. V. S. (2020). English language proficiency and employment outcomes: Evidence from India. International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies, 9(1), 1–14.
Torres, L., Routon, P.W., Hartley, P. (2019). International business students’ perceptions of skill development through undergraduate education. Journal of International Business Education, 14, 161- 180.
Zeigler, R. (2007). Student perceptions of "soft" skills in Mechanical Engineering. ICEE 2007 Conference. Retrieved 5 October 2008, from http://icee2007.dei.uc.pt/proceedings/papers/505.pdf