Abstract
This research paper is a graduate tracer study conducted to monitor the whereabouts of the graduates of College of Business Education. It employed a descriptive research design and analysis used frequencies, percentages, and weighted means. The respondents where 166 graduates of a business school in the Philippines from year 1997 to 2023 using quota sampling. Results showed that most of the graduates are now employed and they found jobs three months after graduation. Graduates felt that they had not reached their full potential and that the College lacked some aspects of research skills, exposure to the international community, opportunity abroad, and salary improvement. The results imply further development in the College business curriculum since the graduates suggested ways strategies for improvement from their actual industrial experience intensified by the challenges they faced at work.
Keywords: Tracer study, College of Business Education, employability, skills
*This paper is presented at the 4th Northern Philippines Business Research Conference hosted by Northwestern University”
References
Abu Bakar Md. Y., Jani R and Zubairi Y. Z. (2009), “An overview of Graduate Employability of recent Graduates: Some Facts and Figures,” Seminar on Employability, The Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.
Ahmad, N.F.A. Zainal, S. Idris, M. Rahmat (2012). Relationship between employability and program outcomes achievement Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 59 (2012), pp. 254-263, 10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.09.273
Aina, L. O., & Moahi, K. (1999). Tracer study of the Botswana library school graduates. Education for Information, 17, 215–244.
Aranega, (2014) Competencies for employability: How can they be developed and assessed in initial training? Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 139 (2014), pp. 366-372, 10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.08.015
Attorney General’s Chambers, The Vocational Training Act of 1998, Act 22 of 1998, Retrieved January 10, 2010, from Government of Botswana, Laws of Botswana Web site: http://www.laws.gov.bw
Badiru, E. O., & Wahome, M. (2016). Conducting graduate tracer studies for quality assurance in East African universities: A focus on graduate students’ voices on quality culture. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(6), 174-181.
Belfield, C. R., Bullock, A. D., & Fielding, A. (1999). Graduates’ views on their higher education contribute to their general development: A retrospective evaluation for the United Kingdom. Research in Higher Education, 40(4), 409-438. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018736125097
Buted, D. and Meñez, N. (2005), Relevance of HRM Curriculum: Basis for Enhancing the HRM Program of Lyceum of Batangas, LB Research Journa,l Volume 1
Celis, M. I. C., and Felicen S. (2011), Tracer Study of the Graduates of BS Tourism: Basis for Curriculum Review, LPU Journal of Tracer Studies, vol. 1.
Cuadra, Lijuera & Aure, Ma & Gonzaga, Gretchen. (2019). The Use of Tracer Study in Improving Undergraduate Programs in the University. 6. 13-25.
Gines, A. C. (2014). Tracer study of PNU graduates. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 4(3), 81-98.
Ingersoll, R., Merrill, L., & May, H. (2012). Retaining teachers: How preparation matters. Educational Leadership, 69(8), 30-34.
Lopez-Acevedo G. (2003), “A reassessment of Technical Education in Mexico,” Journal of Career and Technical Education,” Vol. 19, No. 2, pp 1-21.
Mainardes, E.W., Silva, M. J., & Domingues, M. J. C. (2010). The development of new higher education courses. Service Business, 4(3-4), 271–288. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11628-010-0095-1
Ismail, D.S. Mohammed, (2015). Employability skills in TVET curriculum in Nigeria federal Universities of technology. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 204 (2015), pp. 73-80, 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.08.111
Rojas, T. T., & Rojas, R. C. (2016). College of education graduate tracer study (GTS): Boon or bane? European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 12(16).
R.D. Martin (2014) The importance of communication competency for employability. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 139 (2014), pp. 387-394, 10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.08.024
Schomburg, Harald(2003) Handbook for Graduate Tracer Studies: Centre for Research on Higher Education and Work, University of Kassel, Germany http://www.qtafi.de/handbook_v2.pdf
Teijeiro, P. Rungo, J. Freire (2013). Graduate competencies and employability: The impact of matching firms’ needs and personal attainments. Economics of Education Review, 34 (2013), pp. 286-295, 10.1016/j.econedurev.2013.01.003
Ylagan, A., and Meñez, Fe, (2011), Tracer Study of Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management Graduates of LP-B from2001 – 2004, LPU Journal of Tracer Studies, vol. 1.
