English Communication Skills in International Business : Industry Expectations Versus University Preparation

Mohammod Moninoor Roshid, A Kankaanranta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
335 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In the globalized labor market, skills gaps between industry expectations and university preparation are becoming more prevalent. English communication skills (ECS) are vital soft skills in all workplaces, particularly in international business, where English is commonly used as a lingua franca. This case study examined the nexus between academia and industry regarding the instruction of ECS and their applicability to meet the requirements of the globalized business landscape by collecting data from 43 personnel in the international ready-made garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh. The research reveals that English courses in higher education do not adequately address the communication needs of the international RMG business, which requires practical experience in the workplace, trade-specific vocabulary, intelligibility, and clarity rather than a high level of fluency. The study recommends promoting the teaching of English for general business purposes in Bangladesh by integrating theoretical and practical learning in the classroom and workplace as part of the curriculum.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages26
JournalBusiness and Professional Communication Quarterly
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 27 Jul 2023
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Business communication
  • English as a medium of instruction
  • English communication skills
  • Higher education
  • Ready-made garment (RMG) industry
  • Skills mismatch

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