Employment Outcomes, Skills Development, and Sentiment Analysis of BSIT Graduates (2015–2023)
Keywords:
Curriculum enhancement, Graduate employability, Information technology education, Sentiment analysis, Skill developmentAbstract
This study investigates the employment outcomes, skill development, and experiences of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) graduates from a private college in Southern Negros, Philippines, spanning the years 2015 to 2023. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, the research integrates survey data and advanced computational sentiment analysis to assess program effectiveness and graduate trajectories. The findings reveal strong employment outcomes, with 86% of graduates employed primarily in local IT sectors, including government services and technical support roles. Graduates demonstrated strengths in adaptability, teamwork, and foundational computer skills; however, gaps were identified in entrepreneurial thinking and formal communication. Sentiment analysis using the Text2Data analytics tool revealed highly favorable perceptions, with a sentiment score of +0.98 and an emotional engagement score of 7.78, reflecting the intensity of graduates’ feedback. While graduates expressed gratitude for their academic experiences, they also identified areas for improvement, such as aligning the curriculum with evolving industry standards, enhancing instructor engagement, and providing clearer career pathways. Key recommendations include integrating advanced topics like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to meet industry demands, fostering community-centered capstone projects, and establishing strategic industry partnerships to enhance experiential learning. By addressing skill gaps and incorporating actionable feedback, this study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the BSIT program. It provides strategies to align its educational offerings with global industry requirements while supporting graduates’ long-term career success.
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