Generic Competence Development In Real Estate Graduates In Malawi

Globalization and technological advancements have brought unprecedented changes in the business environment. To remain relevant and gain competitive advantage, many real estate firms are shifting to unusual ways of doing business and adoption of new business models. Recruiting highly skilled real estate graduates is one of the fundamental requirements for the success of many real estate firms. This has resulted in increased levels of unemployment and layoffs among real estate professionals due to skills mismatch. Possessing academic qualifications alone is therefore no longer sufficient enough to guarantee employment for real estate graduates. This study used a mixed-method design to investigate generic competence required of real estate graduates in Malawi. Primary data was collected using questionnaires. 19 heads of sections from various real estate firms completed and returned the questionnaires. Data was analyzed using Microsoft excel and content analysis. The study found that all the thirteen generic competencies used in the study were essential to real estate firms in Malawi and that professionalism and ethics, property inspection skills, data management, team work among others are the key competencies required by Malawian real estate employers. However, the study revealed that Malawian real estate graduates are deficient in four out of thirteen generic competencies. It is therefore recommended that these deficient skill sets should be incorporated in the real estate curriculum.