Predicting Graduate Employability based on Program Learning Outcomes

Abstract

Many studies based on the literature and adopted approach by Ministry of Higher Education regarding graduate employability are using survey. This approach is lack with on-demand analytical capability for impactful decision making. There is a lack of study that predicts the duration of graduate to get employed based on quantitative analysis. Since all institutions of higher education are compulsory to adopt and implement outcomes-based education (OBE), this study aims to develop a predictive model on GE based on program learning outcomes (PLO) data. There are two data sources used in this study, institutional academic database and online feedback from graduate. This study used simple linear regression to measure the degree of relationship between the category of PLO with the duration of graduate to get employed. This study received 47 responses from 216 with a response rate of 22%. PLO1 and PLO6 which are ‘knowledge’ and ‘problem solving and scientific skills’ respectively show high significance values on the duration of graduate to get employed. The linear models developed based on PLO1 and PLO6 were validated with error rate analysis and evaluated with error rate frequency analysis. The results show the model has potential value to be used to predict graduate employability performance within the time frame (6 months) as determined by Ministry of Higher Education. With prediction capacity from the developed model, more intervention program can be strategically planned to assure graduate can be employed in time and in-field.