Higher Education and labour integration. Spanish graduates with disabilities and professional competence

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the strengths and weaknesses detected by Spanish university graduates with a disability in the process of university education and integration into the mainstream labour market, as well as the experience and opinion of companies concerning this issue. The method used was quantitative-qualitative and descriptive. The participating sample consisted of 687 Spanish university graduates with a disability, 77 university students with a disability 19 University Support Services, and 16 companies. Results and conclusions allow us to confirm that: (1) university graduates with a disability, in general, are not provided with appropriate support at university to develop their professional competence sufficiently; (2) professionalizing practices are an opportunity for the employment of graduates with a disability; (3) disability prevails over the quality of the person’s curriculum vitae when entering the mainstream labour market.