Impact of sustainable career ecosystem in TVET and transition from academia to work for Industry 4.0: insights from the global perspective

Purpose This article discusses how a sustainable Career Ecosystem in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has changed in promoting the graduates' transition in the workforce beyond academia. The study adopts a narrative literature review approach, which synthesizes the available information to gain insight into how sustainable career ecosystems in TVET contribute to employability, career preparation and career sustainability. The article will give a comprehensive insight into this process of transition, besides educating teachers, policymakers and industry stakeholders on how to better match education with the requirements of the labour market. Design/methodology/approach The literature review was a narrative, with the analysis of international and national literature, peer-reviewed articles, policy reports, labour market analysis and institutional frameworks concerning career ecosystems of TVET and graduate career transitions. This methodology facilitated a thorough qualitative synthesis of trends, gaps and contradictions in the literature, which allowed a contextual investigation of complicated issues like the role of Higher Education Institutions, employer demands, socio-economic factors in career paths and gender-based issues in career progression. Findings The results show that TVET offers sustainable Career Ecosystems that are pivotal in determining the employability of graduates and their long-term career path. Using systematic transition approaches like internships, mentorship and industry partnerships is also a major contributor to increasing the preparedness of graduates to the labour market. More so, sustained career success is also caused by self-regulatory actions encompassing constant skill growth, networking and adaptability in one’s career. Nevertheless, there is unequal access to career, and women are offered fewer opportunities and resources, which is becoming an ongoing challenge. Practical implications The article provides practical recommendations to Higher Education Institutions, employers and policymakers through the identification of the relevance of curriculum-industry congruency, work-integrated learning, inclusive labour policies and specific mentorship programs. To ensure an equal and robust career ecosystem, it is necessary to address the structural inequalities, such as gender differences and the digital divide. Originality/value The research study adds novel value to the existing body of knowledge by theoretically incorporating sustainable Career Ecosystems in TVET with the body of literature on graduate career transition on a global scale. It gives a general template to use in future research, policy, and practice in ensuring sustainable graduate careers by making crucial gaps and synthesizing different views.