A TRACER STUDY OF THE GRADUATES OF BACHELOR OF TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL TEACHER EDUCATION MAJOR IN FOOD AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT COVERING THE ACADEMIC YEARS 2022, 2023, & 2024 OF THE SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Keywords:
tracer study, graduate employability, technical-vocational teacher education, food service and management, work attitude, quality of educationAbstract
This descriptive tracer study examined the demographic profile, employment outcomes, work attitudes, perceptions of education quality, and applied competencies of 200 graduates of the Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education (BTVTED) program, major in Food Service and Management, at the Santo Tomas College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology (STCAST), covering Academic Years 2022 to 2024. Using a researcher-adapted, CHED-referenced tracer questionnaire administered through Google Forms and analyzed using frequency, percentage, and mean, the study found that graduates were predominantly female (71%), single (77%), and 20–24 years old (68%), with only 33% pursuing further education. Seventy-three percent (73%) of respondents were employed, mostly (70%) in regular positions, with 55% securing work within three months of graduation and 44% earning an initial monthly gross income of ₱18,000–₱23,000. However, 57% considered their present occupation unrelated to their degree, pointing to a job–course mismatch despite strong employment absorption. Graduates rated their own work attitudes (M = 4.38), the institution's quality of education provision (M = 4.43), and the applicability of college-acquired competencies (M = 4.44) as "Very High." The findings indicate that the BTVTED program produces work-ready, values-driven graduates who are readily absorbed into the labor force, even as a substantial share enter occupations outside their field of specialization. The study recommends curriculum enhancement toward emerging food-service trends, stronger career guidance and industry linkages, and the institutionalization of periodic tracer studies for continuous quality assurance.
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