Niňa’s Tri-prism Framework: A Trifocal Approach for Enhancing Graduates’ Employability Outcomes in Local Universities and Colleges in Bulacan

Burce (2024) introduced Niňa’s Tri-prism: Trifocal Approach, aiming to offer a comprehensive framework for enhancing graduates’ employability among graduates in Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) in Bulacan. This research utilized a qualitative study, engaging the target population from different stakeholders like Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Bulacan, hospitality management graduates from 2016-2020, and representatives from the hospitality industry where these graduates found employment. Employing a phenomenological approach, the study delved into understanding the employability of LUC graduates following the Colaizzi method for data analysis. A structured interview protocol guided the study’s objectives, conducting focus-group and one-on-one interviews with twelve (12) participants. Data transcription and coding revealed recurring themes. The study was anchored by Urie Brofenbrenner’s Ecological System Theory (1979), which highlights how individuals interact with their environment, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple levels of influence in human behavior. The findings led to the formulation a Trifocal Approach framework involving Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), graduates, and industry. It integrates strategies such as competency awareness, personal attributes, comprehensive internship, skills acquisition, employment insights, employment-on-board training, career empowerment, and professional competency development. The study concluded that collaboration among these stakeholders is vital for enhancing graduates’ employability, emphasizing simultaneous interventions across all three components for optimal results. It is recommended for future researchers to find the Trifocal Approach’s effectiveness in local settings.