Investing and Optimizing Resources in Higher Education: Bridging and Benefitting Students, Academia, and the industry

Abstract

Purpose: Upon enrolling in universities, students anticipate a return on their investment, encompassing resources, effort, and prospects for a successful career. This study was undertaken to explore the interplay among student investment, their knowledge and skills, the resources provided by higher education institutions, program alignment with industry demands, and adaptability to labour market trends. Method: Data was collected from university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, employing a random sampling method to gather responses from 384 participants through a Likert scale questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 21. Findings: The study revealed significant associations between student investment, knowledge and skills, university resources, program relevance to industry, and adaptability to labour market dynamics. Implications for Research and Practice: These findings contribute novel insights from both practical and theoretical standpoints, suggesting potential avenues for future scholarly inquiry.