From Classroom to Industry: A Tracer Study Assessing Career Outcomes and Industry Alignment of CICT Graduates of STI West Negros University

Abstract

The purpose of this graduate tracer study is to evaluate the curriculum relevance and employment outcomes of the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) program at STI West Negros University's College of Information and Communications Technology for graduates from the academic years 2020-2024. The significance of this study is to track and monitor graduates in order to assess how well the BSIT program satisfies labor market demands and industry standards, as well as to assist the institution in identifying areas that require improvement. Convenience sampling was used in the study, and data was gathered from graduates via online surveys implementing Microsoft Forms. The survey contains closed and open-ended questions designed to capture graduate’s employment status, the suitability of their acquired skills for their current positions, and their opinions on how well their education prepared them for their careers. According to evaluated preliminary data, 75% of graduates from this time frame are employed at the moment, with 69% of them holding positions related to information technology. There are notable differences, though, especially among the 2022 graduates, who had the highest unemployment rate (63%). Furthermore, instead of continuing their education, 97% of graduates chose to start working right away. Just a small portion of graduates find employment in the public sectors; the majority (90%) are employed in the private sector. Moreover, the interpreted results also identified key causes contributing to graduate’s unemployment such as a lack of work experience and job opportunities. The study also recommends that the program needs to enhance their industry engagement, do curriculum improvements, and recruit more job seeker support. Additionally, the integration of IT-driven initiatives to improve student learning and career readiness, the establishment of regular channels of communication between academic institutions and employers, and the implementation of structured internship programs to close the knowledge gap between education and employment are recommended.