Employment Status and Academic Competencies among the Information Technology Graduates: A Tracer Study

Abstract

Information technology graduates of colleges and universities have increased rapidly while continuously facing stiff employment competition. The study traced the employability of the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) graduates of a university. It also described the profile of the BSIT graduates; assessed graduates' employment conditions; and determined the academic competencies utilized by the BSIT graduates in their current jobs. Using descriptive research design, the study employed standardized tool from Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and a sample of 87 BSIT graduates as respondents. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents were dominantly male, single, and from the Visayas region. Majority of them were regular or permanent in their current job and were locally employed and worked as an IT professionals in their present occupation. The graduates found their first job through advertisement. They utilized advanced information technology competencies in their jobs. Hence, their work matched to their tertiary degrees. The study provided information that the BSIT graduates of the University of Cebu - Banilad Campus are highly employable. After months of linkages for possible employers and career mapping of graduates, the school will be able to increase graduates assistance on job placements. After two hours of seminar on career mapping, the college will be able to assess the skills of the graduates to suggest possible areas of work to engage.