Alignment between the employability attributes of graduating students and industry requirements

This study evaluated the competencies of graduating students at the Cebu Technological University-Carmen Campus in relation to eight employability attributes, assessed the alignment from the perspectives of students, teachers across the five disciplines, and HR professionals or student mentors from partner industries. The primary objective examined whether students’ self-assessments match teacher’s evaluations and industry’s expectations in order to ensure that students can secure employment immediately after graduation. To achieve this, a descriptive-correlational research design was employed. A total of 275 respondents voluntarily participated in the study. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences in their assessments of employability attributes. Findings based on the ANOVA point out significant differences among the three respondent groups in four academic programs: Hospitality Management (Systems Thinking Skills), Marine Engineering (all eight employability attributes), Industrial Technology (Work Ethics), and Education (Leadership, Management, Information Technology, and Systems Thinking Skills). These differences in the data propose that existing school-industry partnerships may not be strong enough, and that students still need to improve both skills and values through a reinforced alignment of employability attributes. To address these gaps, the study vouches for the implementation of An Action Plan for Enhancing the Alignment between Graduating Students' Employability Attributes and Industry Requirements. This plan motivates continued school-industry partnerships that comprise hands-on learning—not just towards the end of the course, but throughout the whole program. This better prepares students for direct and significant employment after graduation.