CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the related literature and studies after the researchers have
done a comprehensive and detailed search.

Related Literature

Tracer study is an approach that is commonly used in most organizations to track

and keep record of their students once they have graduated from the institution,
particularly in educational institutions. Through tracer study, an institution capable of
assessing the standard of education provided to its graduates by knowing the placements
and positions of the graduates in society which can later be used as a benchmark to
generate more skilled and successful graduates.

Lowe and Schellenberg (2001) pointed out that industries and other business
organizations rely so much on the huge contributions of learning institutions in providing
human machineries formed in accordance with their needs. They strongly believed that
achievements would primarily rely on the performance of these institutions. The failure
of universities to provide the required learning skills among graduates that result in the
economy of the county's disequilibrating region. They stated further that individuals are
spending time and money to become 'more professional. Companies and societies
typically invest in human capital in hopes of a future return on those investments for the
development of their employees and citizens.

Ross (2000) reported that industries complain that often, new hires from schools
do not have the basic resources they need. The skills often demanded by employers, as
measured by the broad range of skills required from potential workers, are usually the
least in availability, as measured by the qualifications, abilities and skills that graduates
of universities bring to the job. He stressed that the educational aim is to prepare children
for a vibrant, productive position in society to the best of their ability, and also to suit
them to do a job for work.

As claimed by Rumberger (1984), college graduates carry competitive advantage

on the labor market. They are more likely than employees with less experience to find
high-level skilled jobs. A similar portion working in lower jobs such as secretary and
service staff, where a college degree is hardly required and may even be detrimental to
satisfactory work results, is dependent on the skill levels of the occupations. Increasing
numbers would also be required to accept jobs which are incompatible with their training
standard.

The book The Philippine Labor Code, An employer has a right to select his
employees and to decide when to engage them. He has a right under the law to full
freedom in employing any person free to accept employment from him, and this, except
as restricted by valid statute or valid contract, at a wage and under conditions agreeable to
them. This author wants to give insights into the rights between the employee and the
employer in relation to the job that should be given to any person to be employed. This
will differentiate the significance of being employed and the preference when choosing a
position in which to apply.
The Philippines may go beyond the standing of employment in the country, rights
and importance should be understood. As specified in the book of Labor Economics by
Cristobal M. Pagoso, it state that in view of low literacy rates in rising unemployment in
developing countries it has become imperative that greater educational opportunities
should be provided for the great proportion of adult population as well as the large
number of youth outside the formal school system to help them acquire further
knowledge and skill thereby improve their livelihood and strengthen the country. As a
student, one thing we need to remember is the notion that when it comes to job offers,
there's no age problem, because in the field of employment, being equal to everyone who
is deserving of jobs is a reason to be employed.
 According to the book Contemporary Social Problems and Issues, the educational
levels and literacy rates of workers in the Philippines are among the highest in Asia, but
they are poorly established and in short supply in technological, manual and managerial
terms. There is an overabundance of college graduates that in the field of education, law
and other professionals, most notably in the Manila area, were in excess of demand to
find employment suitable for his educational training. The authors want to show how
journalism graduates will use their skills and training to acquire and develop the
technical, manual and managerial skills that are lacking in Filipino workers.

Related Studies

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is one

government agency that followed graduate tracer studies. TESDA has conducted
numerous studies and research on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
programs and related innovations in TVET with the goal of creating evidence-based
policy guidelines for management to use. One of which is the Expanded Tracer Study of
SY 2000-2001 Post-Secondary Graduates conducted at the latter part of 2002.

This research was conducted to determine the efficacy of all TVET institutions
'TVET programs as evidenced by its graduates' employability. The outcome of these
studies served as a benchmark for determining performance in providing middle-level
skills development services to the various TVET players in the regions. It is intended to
provide signals on the type of jobs TVET graduates are going into; their income levels;
the length of job search before landing their first job; and, among others, the certification.
The research sub-module was the evaluation of the PESFA graduates during the same
time.

This undertaking was carried out as part of the regular Training Performance
Monitoring and Evaluation (METP) system spearheaded by TESDA's Planning Office.
The preceding conduct of the graduate tracer study was carried out in 2000 (TESDA),
2000).
 The main goal of the tracer study was to examine the shifts in the graduates'
career patterns to provide a basis for evaluating the University of Malawi's current
programs. The study's significance is to include a continuation of the college's
performance evaluation process, as well as college graduates.

Another study, Tracer Study of Science and Technology graduates of 2000 and
2001 conducted by Management Information System Unit of Science and Technology
Policy Research Division of the National Science Foundation Of Sri Lanka, the results of
the study shows the trend of the employment status of the graduate by gender, employed
and unemployed rates, sector employment, achievements, waiting time for the graduates
for their first paid employment, waiting time for the graduates employment according to
gender, view of the graduates for the effectiveness of the degree course, view of the
graduates on the relevance of degree course to current employment, reasons for being
engaged in fields not related to degree course, self-employed graduates, obstacles faced
by graduates when finding employment. The study results will also include an overview
of how much can the college include updates on the degree course to meet the industry's
core job requirements.

With the increase in the number of college graduates in the population, the
unemployment rate in the country also increased, job opportunities for graduates became
very competitive, Routine Alumni Tracer Study conducted by Maldives College of
Higher Education hopes to evaluate their graduates' employment status, assess the effect
of graduate training on work selection and assess how graduates view their college in
terms of their academic and professional growth. This helps to accomplish the same
objectives even for their students.
Graduates 'Job Outcomes 2004, a report by Manwel Debono, Albert Debono, and
Noel Caruana, focuses on the graduates' employability. The study described in this
document offers a valuable and important resource when it comes to policy design and
growth in both the education and employment spheres; two complementary and welded
sectors. A close examination of the results leads one to believe that a critical and essential
element of any person's career path is the role of career guidance. Career guidance
enhances a person's ability to recognize abilities, competencies and preferences that
contribute to effective decision making in the fields of education, training and
occupation. The same concern of this study is to decide the trainings and advance studies
that the students undergo after college is complete. The college might as well provide
career guidance that can provide significant support to individuals during their transition
between levels of sector of education and trainings.

A website posted by Far Eastern University on institutions of higher education

becomes a tool in tracing their alumni's whereabouts. On the same note, the Computer
Studies College, with the aid of the University Research Center (URC) in carrying out
this analysis, is gearing itself.

Another tracer study was conducted among the Batangas State University-College
of Industrial Technology graduates of the Bachelor of Industrial Technology program
from 2013-2016. In terms of educational profile, there is no professional review for the
Bachelor of Industrial Technology graduates across the major of specialization but they
are able to seek advanced study for professional advancement. The recommended
suggestions for further improving employability Bachelor of Industrial Technology
centered mainly on National Certifications, attendance to seminars and training, and
consulting with advisory boards.

A tracer study, Tracer Study on Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Graduates of a Polytechnic College in the Philippines from 2007 to 2010 was conducted
by Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges. It set jobs rates, professional registration, labor
mobility, work satisfaction and skills utilization among others. The research also
examined the importance of the results and school variables of the Electrical Engineering
curriculum to the world of work. Significantly, findings revealed that graduates are
highly employable in a wide range of industries such as consulting, design and
inspection, service, maintenance and repair, and electrical utilities, and hold roles that
differ from supervisor, planner, teacher, technician, and staff engineer. Metro Manila and
its suburb have proved to be the number one manpower importer, while a small number
are working overseas. For different factors, including low wages, inadequate benefits and
hostile conditions, a high rate of mobility was noticed among the students.
Recommendations for program improvement have been provided, in particular exposure
to modern electrical equipment with hands-on experience of the various software used by
the industry, and a course that will prepare them for supervisory and managerial
positions.

The Graduate Tracer Study (GTS) generated valuable information on

whereabouts of Los Baños University of the Philippines (UPLB) graduates from
academic years 2001 to 2004, in particular their employment status, which in turn will
serve as a guide for improving curricula, as well as plans for faculties development
activities. In particular, it (a) identified programs often sought by employers and with the
highest potential initial earnings, (b) competencies and skills gained in college that are
strongly applied in the current work, (c) assessed the length of time before graduates
were employed after graduation, and (d) described and evaluated the academic and
personal history that contributed to graduates’ employability.
Definition of Terms

To avoid confusions, the following terms are defined:

Graduate Tracer Study. (GTS). This is a follow-up survey of graduates, which takes
place after graduation or the end of the training.

LET. Licensure examination for teachers. This a term refers to the education graduates
who will take the exam.

Program. This pertains to either Industrial Education and Industrial Technology

programs.
VMGO. Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives that serves as a compass of the college.