Assessing Employment Outcomes and Curriculum Relevance of BSIT Graduates Batch 2021: A Graduate Tracer Study at Nueva Ecija University of Science & Technology

This research investigates the employment outcomes and curriculum relevance for graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) program under the College of Information and Communications Technology of Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST). The researchers employed a cross-sectional survey method. One hundred five out of 134 (or 78.36%) graduates from batch 2021 participated in the study. The Graduate Tracer Study (GTS) survey instrument developed by the Commission on Higher Education explored various dimensions, including demographic profiles, current employment status, relevance of the curriculum to their first job, and competencies that were found helpful in their careers. The findings indicate that most graduates are employed, with 94.29% (or 99 out of 105) secure employment and 44.44% (or 44 out of 99) in regular or permanent positions. 61% (44 out of 72) perceive that the respondent’s first job is related to the program they graduated from. The 38.89% (28 out of 72) graduates took one to six months to land their first job. The BSIT curriculum is generally perceived as relevant, with 66.67% of the respondents declaring it relevant to their first job. Communication skills (91.67%) and problem-solving skills (93.06%) were the top competencies learned in college that the respondents found helpful in their first job. However, the study identifies areas for improvement, particularly in periodic curriculum reviews, to meet evolving industry demands. These insights are crucial for informing curriculum development and providing targeted support to future BSIT graduates, ultimately enhancing their employability and career success.