Graduates Employability: A Tracer Study for Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management S.Y. 2010-2014 At MSEUF Lucena City

We are third year student BS Tourism management, conducted our research entitled “Graduates Employability: A Tracer Study of the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management S.Y. 2010-2014 at MSEUF Lucena City. The purpose of the study are to trace the possible career for those students who are in the same field, to improve and strengthened the curriculum of the department and to assess the current employability of those graduates. The researcher’s sub-problems, are the following: The Demographic Characteristics of Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management Graduates in terms of: 1. Gender 2. Age 3. Civil Status 4. Year graduated 5. Employment Statues 6. Income followed by the employability among graduates and lastly the determinants affecting the hiring and non hiring of the graduates. The researcher’s conceptual framework involves the use of Input, Process and Output or IPO. The study is only benefited to those tourism graduates of MSEUF Lucena City starting from S.Y> 2010-2014. The research design of the study is the Descriptive. It is suitable for studies which aims to find out what prevails in the present conditions or relationships, help opinions and beliefs, process and effects and developing trends. (Ardales V., 2008). It is not only the descriptive method but also researcher’s used the Quantitative method in a form of survey questionnaire. From the total population of 185 tourism graduates, we gathered almost half of the respondents to get the information that would answer to our problem. Based on the researcher’s findings the result would be positively answered to every question. For the first sub-problems which is the demographic characteristics of the graduates, majority of them are single and female taking up the said curriculum, the BS Tourism. Most are living in region 4 and reside in the city. For their employment data, most of them are employed. Those who are working, majority of them are in permanent position, the least are those who are self- employed. Majority of them are professionals. The least are those who are clerks and in trade business. The major lines of business of the company where they are working are in the tourism industry, the least are those who are working in electricity supply business, in public administration and in real estate. For the factors that contribute to the employability among the graduates. The main reason why they stay in their job is because of salaries and benefits. The least is that they are influence by peer and family. The reason why they accept their first job offer is career challenge the last is the proximity of the residence. Most of the respondents have been in the industry for one to six months. Most of their first work is in the clerical and the least is self-employed. For their current work most of them are professionals. Communication skills got the highest factor followed critical thinking and the least is entrepreneurial skill. These are the determinants that affect the hiring and non-hiring of the graduates. Majority of their initial gross earning in their first job is Php 5,000.00 to Php 10,000.00. The least are those who are earning Php 25,000.00 and above. Majority of them agree that the curriculum is relevant to their work.