CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

Education is one of the major component in developing an individual and the

improvement of the society. One of the main objectives of education, particularly

of higher education, is to prepare students to pursue different careers. A good

education prepares a graduate to pursue a career that will provide them great

opportunities. One of the factors that determine the effectiveness of an academic

institution is through the employability of its graduates. The quality of graduates is

very much a function of quality instruction and facilities because these will help

ensure that graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values that will

enable them to work in their respective field.

Employability becomes a big issue in the society nowadays. The expanding

number of produced graduates in different fields become a challenge in seeking for

greater opportunities. Employability is not just simply getting a job but it is merely

an ongoing success in the future of the career to those who chose the field of

Psychology. The rise of psychology globally makes the employability of

psychology graduates increase and make job opportunities more diverse.

Batangas State University to endeavors produce dynamic, competent and

competitive graduates answering the different demands of the work force. Through

well-defined curriculum, the education in the university is enrich with trainings that
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are course related. This training imparts knowledge and skills among students. The

academe develops the students and prepares them to face the increasing challenges

of the 21st century for global competitiveness.

The University as an institution of higher learning through the kind of

graduates, has produced which include board topnotches and top ranking positions

in various industries and companies occupied by its graduates both locally and

internationally. This is a reflection of the quality of graduates in the university and

is producing; as well as the kind of programs and curriculum the university is

offering.

One of the courses offered by the University is the degree in Psychology. It

is an academic and applied discipline which involves the scientific study of human

mental functions and behaviors. It is also seeking to understand and explain thought,

emotion, and behavior. Application of psychology include mental health treatment,

performance enhancement, self-help, ergonomics, and many other areas affecting

health and daily life. Graduates have a great edge in acquiring job opportunities in

industry and they excel in the field related to their course. They are flexible, they

can be effective in different work setting, and may it be educational, clinical or

industrial. With this, they can practice all of the learning they have gained that make

them employable.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) conducted a National

Graduate Tracer Study (GTS) to determine the employability of graduates based on

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their respective disciplines to address the growing job mismatch in the country.

CHED hopes to access the issue concerning employability and the relevance of

higher education programs vis-a-sis expectation of the employers. The result of the

study can be used to monitor the quality of programs offered in the Higher Education

Institute (HEIS) that provides incentives institutions, prioritize or reprioritize the

courses determine the basis for allocating scholarships, and investigate 21st century

skills are properly adequately thought to college students (Manila Bulletin, 2012).

Tracer studies are generally defined as surveys of graduates from institution

of higher education and are often seen an important tool of institutional development

especially when the world of work is changing rapidly. From information provided

by tracer studies, the higher education institution can get a systematic feedback from

their former students. The institution can know the whereabouts of their graduates;

their working conditions and their retrospective assessment of their course of study

might stimulate the curricular debate and could be also very interesting for the

current and later students (Schomburg, 2003)

Graduate tracer studies constitute one form of empirical study which can

provide vulnerable information for evaluating results of the education and training

of a specific institution of higher learning. This information may be used for further

development of the institution in the context of quality assurance. These graduate

surveys can bring basic types of information concerning the level of employment,

unemployment, underemployment among graduates, the contemporary

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undergraduate experience, and the correspondence between educational

qualification and required work skills, among others which put into perspective the

contribution of the sector. It provides deficits in a given educational program, such

that the latter can be more closely aligned with the needs of the economy.

Thus, the Graduate Tracer Study focused on providing empirical evidence on

the professional relevance of their study programs, as reflected through the

responses regarding employment status of Psychology Graduates from Academic

years 2015-2017.

Statement of the Problem

This graduate tracer study seeks to assess and evaluate the Profile and

Employability of Bachelor of Science in Batangas State University, Psychology

graduates from AY 2015-2017. Specifically, it attempted to find answers to the

following questions.

1. What is the profile of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology Graduates

in terms of?

1.1 sex;

1.2 age; and

1.3 civil status?

2. What is the educational profile of the respondent in terms of:

2.1 year graduated;

2.2 professional examination passed;

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2.3 tertiary level qualification/advance studies; and

2.4 reasons of the graduates in pursuing advance studies?

3. What are the employment data of the respondents in terms of;

3.1 employed or unemployed;

3.2 reasons of graduate unemployment;

3.3 waiting time for the first job;

3.4 number of jobs taken after graduation;

3.5 employment status;

3.6 present position;

3.7 type of company;

3.8 length of service on the present job; and

3.9 nature of work?

4. What plans of action can be proposed to further enhance the psychology

graduates’ level of employability?

Scope and Limitations of the Study

Researchers aimed to assess and evaluate the employability of Psychology

graduates of BatState-U Lipa from Academic Year 2015-2017.

The respondents were the psychology graduates of Batangas State

University. The context of the study was limited to the respondent’s personal data,
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educational profile and employment data of the graduated students. Likewise, to the

graduates who have never been employed.

Significance of the Study

This study focused on the employability of the graduates of Batangas State

University in the psychology program will be significant to the following:

The Graduates. This study will help them to be more fruitful and productive

employees in their respective workplace.

The Employers. This study will help them determine the characteristics of

psychology graduates that can fulfill the changing needs of employers.

The Psychology Students. This study will help them learn to enhance their

knowledge, employability skills and attitude to be progressive and competitive in

their chosen fields.

The Psychology Instructors. The output of this study will benefit them by

offering a wide range of innovative teaching and learning strategies. Also, allowing

them to better prepare students to enter and succeed in highly competitive

marketplace for addressing national priorities for the graduates’ employment.

The College of Arts and Sciences. This will help the department increase

their student’s level of employability through the proposed action plan

The Alumni. This study can provide new valuable plans and actions for the

graduates with regard to their employability.

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The School Administrators. The result of the study will help to identify and

design the appropriate curriculum for each academic program of the students. It will

also help them assess how successful the university’s mission and vision are

rationalized in terms of graduates’ employability.

To the Researchers. In doing this study, the researchers acquired new skills

and knowledge that can be used in the various areas of psychology. This paper can

enlighten their thinking with regard to the reality of life as they walk towards their

career path.

To the Future Researchers. This study can those who will conduct relevant

studies for gathering significant data about employability and relevance of

Psychology Graduates of BatStateU-Lipa through the year.