Graduate Tracer Study Research Articles

Graduate Tracer Study and Academic Reputation of University

This graduate tracer study is an initiative to determine the graduates career development and at the same time evaluate the curriculum design of the 12 programs. The programs include Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Criminology, Education, Architecture, Engineering, Computing, Business Administration, Business Administration, Law and Graduate Schools. A total of 881 responded to the survey instrument. The sampling is purposive in nature and only dependent on the response rate of the targeted response. The respondents are graduates of 2003 to 2013 with business administration posting the highest percentage share. Further, graduates are found to be highly employable: 42% find job in 6 months with 0.3% to 3% finding their way immediately to middle to top management positions. The entrepreneurial, administrative and social skills are important abilities that enhance graduates quick and smooth career advancement.

Development of an Alumni Database for a University

Databases for alumni are vital to every learning institution. The data and information are needed by the school to communicate, verify, archive and research the alumni. These are also used to validate the gap between the knowledge and skills possess by the graduates and the required qualifications needed by industries. It determined the effectiveness of instructions in the college and achievement of its graduates. The study aimed to design and develop an alumni database of the University of Cebu that would provide solutions to problems in tracing alumni. The proposed system would enable users to register as well as generate information for the purpose of tracing the whereabouts of the alumni. The descriptive-developmental method was utilized, and two sets of researchers made questionnaires were administered to 95 respondents. Percentages, ranks, and weighted means were used in the treatment of the gathered data. The alumni database was developed based on Commission on Higher Education – Graduate Tracer Study survey questionnaire and was tested by the users based on userfriendliness, system security, and accessibility. The study revealed that an alumni database system is by far a better tool, cost-saving, and time-saving mechanism than the traditional method of recording data. It will also streamline the university’s concern for assisting alumni in disseminating relevant developments to other stakeholders around the globe. The developed alumni database system is highly recommended for use. Keywords - Information Technology, alumni database, descriptive study, Philippines

Diversifying Employment Opportunities of Urban Planning Graduates in the Period of Uncertainty

Several countries, including Malaysia, have set a long term target of establishing a more educated workforce. This thrust on the massification of higher education has resulted in a new problem-graduate unemployment. The growing problem of graduate unemployment in Malaysia is widely debated in the media and blogs. The Higher Education Ministry, in its Graduate Tracer Study Report 2011, reported that 24 per cent of them have not found a job after six months of graduating. The employment scenario of the urban planning graduates has changed over the years from catering the needs of the public sector, to catering the needs of the private sector and to fulfilling the need of the One Stop Centre or the OSC. The advent of the liberalization of urban planning services challenges urban planning schools in Malaysia to produce planners not only to cater for local needs but also with the capability of exporting their skills and services internationally. Given the diverse scope of urban planning it is a paradox that graduates of urban planning should converge on the conventional urban planning organizations for employment. The paper will highlight some preliminary findings on the employment prospect of urban planning graduates in the immediate future and the possibility of diversifying employment opportunities of urban planning graduates.

Development of a Scale to Assess the demand for specific competences in teachers after graduation from university

Universities in Germany show an increasing need for specific information on professional demands encountered and addressed by graduates training to become teachers. To provide information on demands and abilities in teaching graduates, a specialised teacher module was developed in the framework of the German Cooperation Project for Graduate Tracer Studies (KOAB, INCHER Kassel). The scale operationalises a model of teacher action based on guidelines published by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK 2004; 2000). To test validity of the 40-item-strong scale, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA, AMOS) was conducted. Analyses are based on a sample of 937 teachers in training who graduated from the universities of Cologne and Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, between 1 October 2007 and 30 September 2008. Overall, the results of the first analyses emphasise the scale’s potential to provide insight into the demands for which students should be prepared by their teaching studies.

Job Search Time and Self-Perceptions of Curriculum Impact among Technology and Livelihood Majors in Mindanao University of Science and Technology

Higher education is more than just a simple production line for job-ready graduates as it is the role of HEIs to provide relevant technical and vocational trainings on top of a well-planned curriculum, solid teaching force, and sustainable instructional infrastructures. Pursuant to RA 7722, this graduate tracer study of BSEd-TLE alumni from SY 2008-2009 to SY 2011-2012 measures job search time and self-perceptions of curriculum impact on self-esteem, financial assistance extended, and financial capability. This descriptive research (n=41) examined these variables as influenced by personal and educational profile. Waiting time for the first job with a mean of 6.44 months (between one to 18 months) is seem to be unaffected by both personal and educational profile. On average, the respondents expressed optimism on the effect the TLE curriculum on their self-esteem. Evidence suggests very high ratings in competence, confidence, commitment, compassion, faith, hope, honesty, diligence, hard work, punctuality, self-discipline, and zeal for service. Inferential statistics shows only grade point average had a significant influence on self-perceptions of self-esteem effects. Furthermore, TLE majors explained they are moderately able to support basic, educational, and shelter needs. The results warrant further analysis and follow-up so necessary revisions to the curriculum may be in order.

Employment of Radiologic Technology Graduates of the Lyceum University of the Philippines – Batangas

A ten-year tracer study of Radiologic Technology graduates of Lyceum of the Philippines University SY 1997-2007 using a survey-structured questionnaire was conducted to examine retrospective contribution of their education to their current work. The objectives of the study included the determination of graduates’ job-placement profile; how relevant are school-related factors like curriculum, instruction, faculty; student services; organization and administration, physical plant, facilities and laboratories to the job placement; the determination of what skills developed while at school are considered useful in meeting the demands of their present work and the formulation of a program that will enhance the relevance of the college curriculum and services. A total of 97/122 (80%) graduates responded where 78% (76/97) are certified licensed radiographers. All respondents were employed on a full-time basis aligned to the program. The following were found to be very relevant in meeting the demands of their jobs: curriculum, instruction, competencies of the faculty, student services, organization and administrative services.Furthermore, the intellectual, communication and interpersonal skills, competencies, and workrelated values they learned and developed while at school as well as the performance in written and oral assessment of the employers were considered the most important contributing factors in seeking employment after graduation. Keywords - Radiologic Technology, tracer study, employment

Developing a Contextualized Information Systems Curriculum for an Emerging Economy

AbstractInformation Systems (IS) curriculum development in developing countries faces the challenge of balancing conformance to international trends while remaining relevant to the local context. Model curricula such as IS2010 provide a clear and up‐to‐date reflection of IS curricula trends. However, such curricula cannot be directly implemented especially in developing countries where there are a number of environmental factors that affect the curriculum. In this paper we describe the approach taken to develop a contextualized undergraduate IS curriculum in a highly interdisciplinary African university. In an effort to harmonize the 3 undergraduate IS programs at the University of Botswana (UB), it was necessary to identify the content and direction for a new common IS core curriculum. To achieve this, several activities were carried out, namely: study of existing model curricula, survey and study of the needs of the local IS industry, tracer study of UB IS graduates, study of some regional and international IS curricula, and study of some relevant local policy documents. The paper discusses how the results of our empirical enquiries (i.e., different studies) have shaped the proposed IS curriculum appropriate to the emerging economic context in Botswana. We emphasize on the importance of proper adaptation/contextualization and exploiting the interdisciplinary nature of IS that can resolve important resource (both human and physical) constraints which is common in many African universities.

Employment Outcomes of Graduates in Selected Higher Educational Institutions in Eastern Visayas, Philippines

This study aimed to describe the socio-demographic profile of graduates and determine the major factors that affect employment outcomes of HEl graduates in Eastern Visayas, Philippines. lt used secondary data from the graduate tracer studies in 2008, involving 2,097 sample graduates who were randomly selected by degree program and year graduated. Ordered logit regression was employed to determine the factors that significantly affect employment outcomes. Communication skills, human relation skills, information technology skills and problem solving skills were found to be the major skills and competencies of graduates with better employment outcomes. Moreover, graduates who earned honors and awards, had higher licensure examination rating, recommendation from influential personalities, good performance in walk-in application and appropriate response to job advertisements are more likely to be employed related to the degree taken up. Graduates in mass communication and documentation had the highest probability for the most favorable labor market outcomes, indicating that these graduates have better chances o fbeing employed related to the degree they took up.

Employment Outcomes of Graduates in Selected Higher Educational Institutions in Eastern Visayas, Philippines

This study aimed to describe the socio-demographic profile of graduates and determine the major factors that affect employment outcomes of HEl graduates in Eastern Visayas, Philippines. lt used secondary data from the graduate tracer studies in 2008, involving 2,097 sample graduates who were randomly selected by degree program and year graduated. Ordered logit regression was employed to determine the factors that significantly affect employment outcomes. Communication skills, human relation skills, information technology skills and problem solving skills were found to be the major skills and competencies of graduates with better employment outcomes. Moreover, graduates who earned honors and awards, had higher licensure examination rating, recommendation from influential personalities, good performance in walk-in application and appropriate response to job advertisements are more likely to be employed related to the degree taken up. Graduates in mass communication and documentation had the highest probability for the most favorable labor market outcomes, indicating that these graduates have better chances o fbeing employed related to the degree they took up.

Los estudios de seguimiento de la población graduada como he rramienta para el cambio y la innovación en el currículo universitario: la experiencia de la Escuela de Administración Educativa de la Universidad de Costa Rica

This paper presents partial results of the research project titled Graduate Tracer Studies for the Education Science with Emphasis on Education Administration, which was carried out between 2003 and 2005. A general theoretical framework of this type of studies, relevant aspects about the historical-social development of modern careers, graduate profile, and the career in Education Administration at the University of Costa Rica. Partial results are presented on the opinion about the career of the graduates of the 2002 in Alajuela, in addition to the information analysis obtained through the focal group technique. Some conclusions are highlighted in relation to the advantages and limitations of the tracer studies for change and innovation of the college curriculum in general, and particularly, about the experience in using this tool in the Education Administration.

University of the East Graduate Tracer Study (School Year 2000-2001 to School Year 2003-2004)

University of the East Graduate Tracer Study (School Year 2000-2001 to School Year 2003-2004)

Tracer study of the Botswana library school graduates

Graduates of the Department of Library and Information Studies, University of Botswana were surveyed with the aim of determining their characteristics, the relevance of their training to their present tasks and their perceptions of the curriculum of the Department. The findings reveal that the products were employed in traditional library settings. They found their training relevant to their present tasks, although they advocated for the strengthening of the information technology component of the curriculum. The study recommended the need to harmonise the certificate and the diploma programmes, given the fact that their schedule of duties are the same. In order for the graduates of the department to be able to function effectively in the emerging information market, a joint BA/B.Sc with library and information studies was recommended for fresh Cambridge O'level holders.

Camp sanitation

This study aimed to determine the employability of Information Technology Education graduates from a state university in the Philippines. The researchers employed cross-sectional retrospective survey method. One-hundred seventy-seven out of 204 (or 86.76%) graduates of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from year 2015–2017 participated in this study. The data gathering instrument used by the researchers is the Graduate Tracer Study developed by the Commission on Higher Education. Findings reveal that 78.53% (or 139 out of 177) of the respondents are already employed. Moreover, 69.78% (or 97 out of 139) perceived that their first job is related to the program that respondents took up in college. It took one year to less than two years for the 28.06% of the respondents to land in their first job. It is also noteworthy that it took 1–6 months for 25.90% of the respondents to find their first job. When asked whether or not the curriculum they had in college is relevant in their first job, majority of the respondents (69.78%) declared that the curriculum of the program they had in college is indeed relevant. To further enhance the marketability of BSIT and BSCS programs and the employability of the graduates they produce, among the researchers’ recommendations is the periodic review of curriculum by academic leaders, alumni, and industry representatives to ensure that graduates are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills required in the industry.