Postgraduate students attend the commencement ceremony at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

LONDON - Times Higher Education (THE) on Wednesday published the sixth annual Global University Employability Ranking, revealing that 14 Chinese universities make into the ranking.

The ranking shows that employers consider Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to be the best Chinese institution at producing graduates with the skills they need for the workplace. HKUST was ranked 13th in this global ranking of 150 universities.

The next five Chinese institutions to make this prestigious ranking were Peking University (17th), Fudan University (37th), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (53rd), Tsinghua University (59th) and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (73rd).

Graduates from American universities are the most employable, with California Institute of Technology leading the pack, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

THE said the research -- commissioned by HR consultancy Emerging and drawn from 2,500 recruitment managers from large international companies -- shows US institutions continue to have a strong grip among global employers, taking 37 places in the 150-strong ranking.

Large global employers based in China were also surveyed as part of the research, revealing that Chinese employers value adaptability, the ability to work in a team and communication skills above the other non-academic skills graduates may possess. Chinese employers placed more importance than those around the world on the ability to work under pressure, and less importance on flexibility.

"A university education brings a host of life-enhancing benefits but for many students, launching a successful career is one of the most important outcomes. For these students, the sixth Global University Employability Ranking will bring them insight and clarity they can't get anywhere else," said Phil Baty, THE World University Ranking editor.

According to THE, the survey behind the ranking asks those responsible for graduate recruitment in large international employers to define what they look for and which universities are the most successful at producing graduates who meet their needs.

The institution said the findings are drawn from 20 countries and reveal some clear distinctions in what employers consider to be the most important employability skills. For example, employers in France, India, the United States and Britain seek students with strong communication skills, while Chinese and German managers consider adaptability to be the most important.

THE is an authoritative source of data, analysis and information about higher education, an essential resource for academics and professionals working in higher education, as well as students and their families.

THE was founded in 1971 and has been online since 1995, publishing news, opinion and the World University Rankings.