
Developing Employability Capital in University Students
A Practical Guide
William E. Donald(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 22. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-1-032-91295-0 (ISBN)
Description
This comprehensive guide introduces and operationalises the Employability Capital Growth Model (ECGM), offering an innovative tool for career development practitioners and academics to prepare university students for a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous labour market.
By adopting a holistic view of graduate employability complemented by Sustainable Career Ecosystem Theory, this book offers interdisciplinary insights from applied psychology, career development, higher education, human resource management, and sociology. The book is divided into four parts:
Part I begins with the theoretical foundations of a sustainable career ecosystem and the development of the ECGM.
Part II offers an in-depth exploration of the ECGM, incorporating nine forms of capital, contextual and temporal factors, and personal outcomes.
Part III presents a 10-step guide to using the ECGM with university students, informed by 19 cases from 26 career development practitioners and academics from across 16 countries and 6 continents.
Part IV encourages readers to consider the implications for other actors within a sustainable career ecosystem and concludes with a summary of the key takeaways for each chapter.
Whether used in one-to-one sessions, group workshops, or as part of university curricula, this book makes the ECGM accessible and easily applicable for anyone seeking innovative strategies to support university students in achieving sustainable and fulfilling careers.
By adopting a holistic view of graduate employability complemented by Sustainable Career Ecosystem Theory, this book offers interdisciplinary insights from applied psychology, career development, higher education, human resource management, and sociology. The book is divided into four parts:
Part I begins with the theoretical foundations of a sustainable career ecosystem and the development of the ECGM.
Part II offers an in-depth exploration of the ECGM, incorporating nine forms of capital, contextual and temporal factors, and personal outcomes.
Part III presents a 10-step guide to using the ECGM with university students, informed by 19 cases from 26 career development practitioners and academics from across 16 countries and 6 continents.
Part IV encourages readers to consider the implications for other actors within a sustainable career ecosystem and concludes with a summary of the key takeaways for each chapter.
Whether used in one-to-one sessions, group workshops, or as part of university curricula, this book makes the ECGM accessible and easily applicable for anyone seeking innovative strategies to support university students in achieving sustainable and fulfilling careers.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
1 s/w Tabelle, 3 s/w Zeichnungen, 2 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 5 s/w Abbildungen
1 Tables, black and white; 3 Line drawings, black and white; 2 Halftones, black and white; 5 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight
168 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-91295-0 (9781032912950)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
02/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€31.49
Available for download

E-Book
02/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€31.49
Available for download

Book
02/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€78.30
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
William E. Donald is Associate Professor of Sustainable Careers and Human Resource Management at Southampton Business School, University of Southampton, UK. He is also the founder of Donald Research & Consulting (Est. 2022).
Content
PART I: INTRODUCING THE PRACTICAL GUIDE
1. Setting the scene: Developing employability capital in university students
2. Introducing a sustainable career ecosystem
3. Background to the Employability Capital Growth Model
PART II: COMPONENTS OF THE EMPLOYABILITY CAPITAL GROWTH MODEL
4. The nine forms of employability capital
5. Acknowledging the context and time dimensions of a sustainable career
6. Considering personal outcomes
PART III: HOW TO USE THE EMPLOYABILITY CAPITAL GROWTH MODEL WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
7. Insights from career development professionals and academics: North America and Europe
8. Insights from career development professionals and academics: Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America
9. Guidance for using the Employability Capital Growth Model with university students.
PART IV: CONTRIBUTION TO A SUSTAINABLE CAREER ECOSYSTEM AND FINAL REFLECTIONS
10. Contribution to a sustainable career ecosystem
11. Final reflections
Index
1. Setting the scene: Developing employability capital in university students
2. Introducing a sustainable career ecosystem
3. Background to the Employability Capital Growth Model
PART II: COMPONENTS OF THE EMPLOYABILITY CAPITAL GROWTH MODEL
4. The nine forms of employability capital
5. Acknowledging the context and time dimensions of a sustainable career
6. Considering personal outcomes
PART III: HOW TO USE THE EMPLOYABILITY CAPITAL GROWTH MODEL WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
7. Insights from career development professionals and academics: North America and Europe
8. Insights from career development professionals and academics: Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America
9. Guidance for using the Employability Capital Growth Model with university students.
PART IV: CONTRIBUTION TO A SUSTAINABLE CAREER ECOSYSTEM AND FINAL REFLECTIONS
10. Contribution to a sustainable career ecosystem
11. Final reflections
Index