Mindanao State University-General Santos City Graduates as Employees: Perspective of Employers

Abstract

Employers’ responses about graduate performance are indispensable for analyzing the institution’s performance against the standards set in the context of its legal and educational mandates. The study aimed to describe the performance of MSU graduates based on the perspectives of the employers. The study used descriptive research design involving 129 employers from various industries across the private and public sectors in SOCCSCKARGEN region inclusive of General Santos, Sarangani, and South Cotabato which have provided job opportunities to MSU-GSC graduates. The findings suggested that the graduate attributes of the employed MSU graduates are highly satisfactory, useful, and matched with the needs in the workplace as assessed by the employers. The employers expressed that personal attributes of graduates are more advantageous and necessary than their practical competence. However, they observed that MSU graduates as employees lack relevant skills, training, and work experience and need to upgrade their qualifications for employment. In general, the findings of the employer satisfaction survey present a positive image for MSU-GSC graduates. The study recommends that continuous enhancement of the curriculum of MSU-GSC and improvement of the quality of instruction must be done to ensure they fit the graduate attributes to the needs of the labor market.