Tracer study for the CPU College of Arts and Sciences graduates from 2001 - 2004

Abstract

This tracer study was conducted to gather relevant information as to the employment of CPU College of Arts and Sciences graduates from 2000 to 2004. Specifically, this tracer study aimed to (1) describe the graduates in terms of civil status, sex, age and residence; (2) determine the educational profile of the graduates in terms of educational attainment, professional skills, professional examinations passed, and reasons for taking the course/pursuing the degree; (3) determine the trainings/advance studies attended by the graduates after finishing college; (4) gather employment data of the graduates; and (5) gather feedback from the graduates of their experiences during college. This study was limited to all the graduates of the Central Philippine University College of Arts and Sciences from 2000 to 2004. The descriptive research design, a combination of qualitative and quantitative descriptive research approaches was used in this study. The variable included in this study was the respondents’ civil status, sex, age and residence. This study included educational profile of the graduates in terms of educational attainment, professional skills, professional examinations passed, and reasons for taking the course/pursuing the degree, the trainings/advance studies attended by the graduates after finishing college, employment data of the graduates and feedback from the graduates of their experiences their college. Data were collected through a self- administered questionnaire among 109 out of 262 (41.6%) computed sample size of the graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2001 - 2004. The survey revealed that the respondents were mostly single, female, 25 - 26 years old, from Region 6, dominantly from Iloilo Province. Almost equal proportion of respondents included in the study resided in cities and municipalities. The respondents with higher proportion were graduates of the degree Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science and Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. Only four out of 91 respondents included in this study graduated Cum laude and one was a Dean’s Lister. The major reasons why respondents took the course at CPU College of Arts and Sciences were strong passion for the profession, good grades in high school, influence of parents or relatives, prospect for immediate employment, inspired by models, prospect of career advancement, opportunity for employment abroad, peer influence, high grades in the subject area, availability of course offering, affordable for the family, and status or prestige of the profession. The major reasons why respondents pursued advance studies were professional development, and both promotion and professional development. Majority of the respondents were generally employed and had regular or permanent status. The major reason why there were respondents not yet employed was for advance or further studies. A higher percentage of the graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences employed as professionals were in education, health and social work. Generally, the respondents were locally employed. Two for every five respondents claimed that their present job was their first job after college. Those who remained in their first job after college did so because of salaries and benefits, career challenge, related to special skills, proximity to residence and family influence. For those whose present job was their first job, majority claimed that their job was related to their course. Respondents accepted job not related to their course due to the following reasons: for better salaries and benefits and career challenge. The major reasons cited why respondents changed their jobs were career challenge, salaries and benefits, related to special skills and proximity to residence. Respondents who changed jobs had stayed in their first job for one to six months. Most of the respondents landed in their first job because they were either recommended by someone, walk-in applicants, informed by friends, and responded to an advertisement. Most of the respondents got their first job in less than a month, and in one to six months. Most of the respondents occupied rank or clerical position in their first job, but later were promoted to professional/technical/supervisor, received initial gross monthly income of P5, 000.00 to less than P10, 000.00 in their first job. Majority of the respondents who were employed admitted that their college curriculum was relevant to their job. Majority claimed that what they had learned in college that were useful and relevant in their first job were, namely: communication skills, human relation skills, critical thinking skills and problem solving skills. In general, the respondents did not make any suggestion to improve the curriculum and the program of the college, although there were some suggestions that should be looked into to improve curriculum of the program. Significant comments of the respondents on the different areas or components of the program should be likewise considered, such as upgrade or improve curriculum, conduct more enhancement training/on the job trainings and educational trips for students, improve hiring professors, improve teaching methods and modernization of laboratory facilities.