Bridging the Gap Between ICT University Learning Outcomes and Industry Expectations: An Empirical Examination of Curriculum Alignment

The establishment of new technology faculties marks a significant step forward in global education, particularly in dynamically developing areas like South Asia. Internship programs are effective channels to connect what is learned in classrooms, theoretical knowledge with reality through practice which demands a deep investigation of ICT academic program educational effectiveness at one of the top universities In South Asia that introduced stream technology back 2016. By 2019, the result of this initiative was starting to be shown in terms of skilled professionals being produced. This research, grounded in the Motivation, Ability and Opportunity (MAO) framework, utilizes a mixed-methods design to investigate underlying factors that contribute towards success of ICT-centered education programs. Covers the purpose of ICT areas internships; experts opinions from the industry in the region. While surveying two hundred students and fifty experts from various industries, the research uncovered a substantial difference between the priorities of education and what the job market requires. By introducing novel analytical methods such as the Ability Gap, Weighted Ability Gap (WAG), Ability Gap Momentum (AGM), and Ability Contribution Index (ACI), the study quantitatively evaluated the variances in realms like object-oriented structure and computer systems networking. Based on these outcomes, the findings indicate that further curriculum revisions will also be required to account for this changing ICT skills landscape when contrasted with existing literature. These recommendations consist of curricular update, focused skill-based workshops, academic and industrial collaborations and feedback system. These are practical steps intended to bridge the identified skill gaps and enhance the efficacy of ICT academic programs in meeting industry requirements.