CIHM Tourism

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN TOURISM GRADUATES OF UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP SYSTEM DALTA- MOLINO

Bedro C.D., dela Peňa M.J., Gamboa J.M., Pilapil K., Trapal G.

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of this study is to determine the employability skills of Tourism graduates from the year 2005 to 2009 of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta - Molino such as Communication Skills, Human Relation Skills, Technical Skills, Management Skills, Research Skills and Leadership Skills. The study is anchored in the theory of Gazier as cited by Weinert who stated that employability is supply and demand. The Descriptive research design was utilized to analyze and delineate the current work abilities of the BST graduates. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to determine if significant difference exist in the employability skills of Tourism graduates in relation to their year of graduation. The study revealed that there were significant differences in the employability skills of the Tourism graduates when they are grouped according to year graduated. The differences among the batches can be accounted from the variable factors and circumstances during the period of their study. Hence, from the results, the institution can improve the quality of teaching by bringing students outside the classroom setting, hiring faculty who are equipped with background and experience in the tourism industry and related jobs, and the University should extend utmost effort to provide facilities of the tourism college

Introduction

The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) – Molino Campus, College

of International and Hospitality Management is committed to providing quality education by

offering a wide range of theoretical, practical knowledge and skills through various aspects of

hospitality management which is necessary to every student in becoming competent individuals

of society.

The college offers study programs such as Bachelor of Science major in Hotel and

Restaurant Management (BSHRM), Associate in Hotel and Restaurant Management (ASHRM)

and Bachelor of Science in Tourism (BST). The Bachelor of Science in Tourism is a discipline

that provides a wide array of experiences that leads to the understanding of history, customs,

traditions, values and culture of different places both here and abroad. Further, the BS Tourism

program includes a course on Tour guiding, Foreign language, Tourist destination marketing,

Thesis writing, Tourism Planning and Development, Personal Development and Public Relation,

Cruise management, Travel Agency Management and Operation, Principles of Tourism with

Tourism Laws, Philippine Tourism: Geography and Culture, World Tourism: Geography and

Culture, Principles of Management, Front Office Management, and Convention and Recreation

Management. These are the courses being taught to the students to gain the employability skills

of tourism such as the Communication skill, Human relation skill, Tour guiding skill,

Management Skill, Research Skill and Leadership skill.

Student capabilities as used in this study refer to abilities learned in the four corners of

the classroom preparing graduates for employment as they step out of the portals of their alma

mater. Such skills result in better employability of graduates.

According to Hind and Moss (2011), employability is a person’s capability to gain and

maintain employment. Further, it depends on the knowledge, skills and abilities possessed by the

latter. Employability of graduates therefore depends on the trainings they attended from first year

to their graduation. According to Walker (2006), tourism as career is a dynamic, evolving and

consumer – driven force it is also the world’s largest industry or collection of industries. When

all its interrelated components are placed under one umbrella: tourism, travel, lodging,

conventions, expositions, meetings, events; restaurants, managed services: assembly, destination

and event management, and recreation. Walker also said that tourism plays a foundational role in

framing the various services that hospitality companies perform.

In the past five years, the UPHSD – Molino has produced number of graduates that have

eventually joined tourism industry works in the tourism industry. Their work is crucial in

creating appreciation of the beauty of the world; therefore, these graduates need certain skills and

knowledge in order to be considered assets to tourism establishments and maintain

employability.

The study provides documentary analysis about the employability skills of Bachelor of

Science in Tourism graduates batch 2005 – 2009 of UPHSD- Molino Campus to meet the

demands of the industry of the new century.

Further, responses from graduates concerning various issues related to teaching and

learning were also considered. Such information is essential to assist the University in planning

and determining factors linked to student learning, curriculum design, and improvement of

services provided by UPHSD.

Therefore the researchers opted to conduct a study about the employability skills of

Bachelor of Science in Tourism graduates batch 2005 – 2009 of UPHSD- Molino Campus.

Specifically it aims to determine the capabilities, knowledge, and skills possessed by graduates

in finding and maintaining work.

The study is anchored in the theory of Gazier as cited by Weinert (2001). According to

Gazier, employability attempts to influence the “supply” side of the labor market, that is, the

workers and their productive capacities and performance, while the “demand” side is made up of

the companies’ requirement.

This theory of Gazier as cited by Weinert (2001) guided the researchers in the research

because it gives an idea that employability is supply and demand where in the University

produces supply to the Tourism industry yet the “product”; graduates should meet the demand of

the Tourism industry. The researchers believe that to be able to market the graduates, the supply

must possess communication skills, human relation, tour guiding skills, management skills,

research skills and leadership skills. These skills are crucial to meet the demand of the industry

to further promote employability.

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework

EMPLOYABILITYSKILLS IMPROVEMENT

Figure 1 shows that employability is dependent variable from graduates’ skills and the

improvement of the university in terms of Curriculum design, services offered by the University

and hiring faculty. In relation to the study, the graduates should focus on enhancing both

students’ skills and their facilities to have a high employment opportunity.

To determine the target respondents for the study, the researchers used the list of

graduates. The researchers analyzed the aforesaid skills using Mean, Percentage, ANOVA and

Frequency Distribution to determine if significant differences exist in the employability skills of

Tourism graduates in relation to their civil status, gender, and year of graduation.

The study focused on the BS Tourism Graduates of University of Perpetual Help System

DALTA- Molino Campus from year 2005-2009. The respondents were only 25 graduates of

tourism from 2005-2009

INPUT Process OUTPUT

Figure 2 Operational Framework

1. Profile of the Respondents Civil Status Gender Year Graduated Employment Status

Employed Unemployed

Nature of Work Airline Travel Agency Cruise ship Front Office (Hotel) Hospitality Related Jobs

( Tourism Officer, Casino, & Event Organizing)

Others

2. Skills Communication Skills Human Relation Skills Technical Skills Management Skills Research Skills Leadership Skills

1. Descriptive Research

2. Researcher –made Questionnaire

3. Statistical Treatment Frequency Percentage Mean ANOVA

Improvements of:

-Curriculum Design

-Services offered by the University

-Hiring Faculty

Figure 2 above shows that the study will use the demographic profile of the respondents

in terms of civil status, gender, nature of work, year of graduation, employment status, and

employability skills of the graduate of BST from 2005 – 2009. Such data will be the inputs for

the study.

A questionnaire developed by the researchers will be used as research instrument.

Statistical treatment in the form of frequency distribution, percentage, mean, and ANOVA will

be applied to process and interpret the collected data.

The inputs and process described above will assist the University in planning and

determining factors linked to students learning, curriculum design, and improvement of services

provided by UPHSD.

This study aims to determine the employability skills of Bachelor of Science in Tourism

graduates batch 2005 – 2009 of UPHSD- Molino Campus.

Specifically, the researcher aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Civil Status

1.2 Gender

1.3 Year Graduated

1.4 Employment Status

1.4.1 Employed

1.4.2 Unemployed

1.5 Nature of Work

1.5.1 Airline

1.5.2 Travel Agency

1.5.3 Cruise Ship

1.5.4 Front Office (Hotel)

1.5.5 Hospitality Related Jobs (Casino, Tourism Officer and Event Organizing)

1.5.6 Others

2. What is the level of employment of these respondents, and do such levels differ in terms

of the respondents’ year of graduation?

3. Is there a significant difference in the employability skills of the respondents BS Tourism

graduates in relation to their year of graduation?

4. What Employability Skill needs improvement?

The researchers’ hypothesis was, there was no significant difference on the employability

ratings of the respondents when grouped according to year level.

METHODS

The study covered the Graduates of BS-Tourism Students of batch 2005 – 2009 from

University of Perpetual Help System – DALTA Molino Campus as respondents of study which

is compose of 25 students. To collect/gather the names of the graduates as well as their contact

numbers and addresses to get the total population needed for the study, the researchers sought

permission from the office of Student Personnel Service.

Purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondent.

The researchers used a descriptive quantitative design for this research

After the researchers gathered the list needed for the research, they distributed and

administered the questionnaires to the respondents through social networking sites such as

Facebook, Twitter, and email and researchers also reached them with their contact numbers.

Further, the researchers also conducted field work (i.e., home visits) to reach the graduate and

completed the data gathering for the period of 5 months. Data were tabulated after the retrieval

and brought to a statistician for statistical treatment, after which the researchers interpreted the

result to give recommendation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This study aims to determine the employability skills of Bachelor of Science in Tourism

graduates batch 2005 – 2009 of UPHSD- Molino Campus.

Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Gender;

There are more female graduates of tourism. The dominance of female students in the

Tourism programme in this study is in line with a previous study on study motivations in Korea,

Taiwan, and China (Kim, et al., 2007), indicating the popularity of hospitality and tourism

Management among female students in Asian countries.

1.2 Civil Status;

Almost all of the respondents are still single, which implies that if not for personal

reasons, the quality and the demand of their current job kept them unmarried. In a book

entitled “Introduction to Hospitality Operations” by Walker 2009, the WTO (World

Tourism Association) has declared that tourism industry work is very demanding; it is a

24hour-a day, 7-day-week, 52-week-a-year economic driver.

1.3 Year Graduated

13 (52%

Single)12(48% Married)

Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Civil Status

SINGLEMARRIEDWIDOWERWIDOWED

Most of the

respondents are graduates of

Batch 2008- 2009.

Respondents that graduated

earlier from the UPHSD-

Molino are less accessible

than those who graduated

recently, which can be attributed to the demands or location of their jobs as those who have

graduated earlier tend be more established in their jobs.

1.4 Employment Status?

Most of the respondents are already employed. This indicates the high employability of

the graduates of UPHSD-Molino. The program BS Tourism offered by the UPHSD- Molino

provides many opportunities for graduates to work in various professions in different sectors

such as restaurants, resorts, air and cruise lines, theme parks, and casinos.

24 (96%)Employed

1 (4%) Unemployed

Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Employement Status

EMPLOYEDSELF-EMPLOYEDUNEMPLOYED

6 (24%)

6 (24%)

2 (8%)

4 (16%)

7 (28%)

Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Year Graduated

2004-20052005-20062006-20072007-20082008-2009

1.5 Nature of Work

Airline16%

Travel Agency20%

Front Office (Hotel)32%

Hospitality Related Jobs (Tourism Of-ficer, Casino,

and Event Organizing)

20%

Others8%

Unemployed (Resigned)4%

Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Nature of Work

It can be gleaned from the table 1.5 that 88% are employed in work aligned with their

course. This indicates that he graduates are generally qualified to jobs aligned or closely aligned

with their course, while the 8% are employed to other industry such as in business sector. The

remaining 4% is a respondent who resigned from her work, which was inclined to tourism

industry, and now focusing on her family.

As stated above, the tourism program provides many opportunities for employment,

which includes land, air and sea-based work.

2. What is the level of employment of these respondents, and do such levels differ in terms

of the respondents’ year of graduation?

Table 2 Level of Employment of the Respondents

BATCH

Mean   Verbal InterpretationCommunication

SkillsHuman

RelationsTechnical

SkillsManagement

SkillsResearch

SkillsLeadership

SkillsOverall Mean

2004-2005 3.92 3.78 3.68 3.77 4.08 3.73 3.83 HE2005-2006 4.28 4.47 4.60 4.57 4.65 4.48 4.51 VHE2006-2007 4.55 4.70 4.55 4.70 4.60 4.65 4.63 VHE2007-2008 4.45 4.63 4.48 4.45 4.45 4.65 4.52 VHE2008-2009 4.33 4.26 4.21 4.34 4.11 4.34 4.27 HE

Overall Mean

4.31 4.37 4.30 4.37 4.38 4.37 4.35HE

Verbal Interpretation

HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE

Table 2 presents the level of employability of the respondents based on their responses on

the different variables of employment. It can be seen that in all the skills necessary for

employment, a “High Employability” was observed. This indicates that respondents perceived

themselves to have the necessary skills to be employed and such skills are neither below average

nor highly excellent.

In the Tourism program at the UPHSD-Molino, for instance, students are allowed to

participate in different activities such as conventions, fashion shows, seminars, provincial and

city tours, interviews, as well as airline, hotel and resort familiarizations which impart

knowledge to students enrolled in the program.

Further, the five batches of graduates who graduated from 2006-2008 perceived

themselves as possessing “Very High Employability” Skills. This is possibly because of the

improvement of the facilities and equipments in the department.

3. Is there a significant difference in the employability skills of the respondents of BS

Tourism Graduates in relation to their year of graduation?

Communication Skills

Table 3

Source of Variation

Sum of Squares

d.f. Mean of Squares

F p

between 2.325 4 0.58136.939 0.0002error 3.77 45 8.3777

total 6.095 49

Assuming the null hypothesis, Table 3 reveals that the respondents’ communication skills differ

significantly at α=0.05. The graduates from the last batches perceived themselves to have higher

communication skills as compared to those who graduated last 2005 to 2006. This improvement

in communication skills can be attributed to the influences and improvement of the social media

such as internet, as well as exposure to tourism-related activities of the school such as organizing

a convention or tour, seminars promoting tourism in the country as part of the revisions in the

Tourism program curriculum.

Human Relations

Table 4

Source of Variation

Sum of Squares

d.f. Mean of Squares

F p

between 5.406 4 1.352

10.05 0.0001error 6.05 45 0.1344

total 11.46 49Assuming the null hypothesis, Table 4 reveals the respondents’ human relation skills

differ significantly at α=0.05. As presented in Table 2, highest employability in terms of human

relations was observed among graduates of batch 2007 and lowest in batch 2005. Their

improved human relation skills is possibly to the influences and improvement of social media

such as internet, progression of Tourism industry standards causing the school to follow these

trends, and exposure to tourism-related activities of the school such as conventions, tours, and

seminars.

Technical Skills

Table 5

Source of Variation

Sum of Squares

d.f. Mean of Squares

F P

between 5.697 4 1.4249.931 0.0001error 6.454 45 0.1434

total 12.15 49

Assuming the null hypothesis, Table 5 reveals that the respondents’ technical skills differ

significantly at α=0.05. Table 2 shows highest employability in terms of technical skills among

graduates of batch 2006 and lowest in batch 2005. This can be attributed to the increased training

and practical services in major subjects of students in the said years, which exposed them to

activities such as attendance in seminars and organizing of events and tours.

Management Skills

Table 6

Source of Variation

Sum of Squares

d.f. Mean of Squares

F P

between 5.183 4 1.29615.01 0.0001error 3.885 45 8.6325

total 9.068 49

Assuming the null hypothesis, Table 6 reveals that the respondents’ management skills

differ significantly at α=0.05. Table 2 shows highest employability in terms of management

skills observed among graduates of batch 2007 and lowest in batch 2005. The researchers believe

that managerial skills can be improved through training students to lead in organizations,

attendance in seminars and conventions, and other school activities or projects that require

planning and organizing.

Research Skills

Table 7

Source of Variation

Sum of Squares

d.f.Mean of Squares

F P

between 3.099 4 0.77489.553 0.0001error 3.569 45 8.111

total 6.668 49

Assuming the null hypothesis, Table 7 reveals that the respondents’ research skills differ

significantly at α=0.05. Table 2 shows highest employability in terms of research skills observed

among graduates of batch 2006 to 2007. The institution has sharpened the skills of tourism

graduates in critical thinking and analysis that is required in research through feasibility and case

studies.

Research skills indicate students’ critical thinking ability and potential for advanced

studies.

Leadership Skills

Table 8

Source of Variation

Sum of Squares

d.f.Mean of Squares

F P

Between 5.761 4 1.4413.23 0.0001Error 4.898 45 0.1088

Total 10.66 49

Assuming the null hypothesis, Table 8 reveals that the respondents’ leadership skills

differ significantly at α=0.05. Table 2 shows highest employability in terms of research skills

observed among graduates of batch 2006 to 2008. Leadership skills can be developed through

participation in leadership seminars and student organizations, group activities in class and other

trainings within and outside school.

Differences on the level of Employment by Year of Graduation

Table 9

Source of Variation

Sum of Squares

d.f.Mean of Squares

F p

Between 2.461 4 0.615250.03 0.0001Error 0.3074 25 1.229

Total 2.768 29

Overall, Table 9 reveals significant differences in the employability skills of respondents

when they are grouped according to year graduated. The null hypothesis, in which no significant

difference in the employability skills of the respondents was assumed, is rejected. This indicates

that our findings on the differences in graduates’ ratings of their employability skills are not a

result of chance and to some extent can be generalized to another group of respondents with

similar profile. Such differences in ratings can be attributed to their exposure to varying

conditions and factors while they were in school.

Therefore, the employability skills of graduates from different years, such as communication

skills, human relation, technical skills, management skills, research skills, and leadership skills,

were influenced by different circumstances and factors during their period of study.

Table 10

Employability Skills Difference per Batch (ANOVA)

Communications Skills SignificantHuman Relations SignificantTechnical Skills SignificantManagement skills SignificantResearch Skills SignificantLeadership Skills SignificantAcross Batches Significant

Table 10 summarizes the variation of the responses of our respondents in terms of

different employability skills. It can be gleaned that the observed differences in the respondents’

employability skills are statistically significant.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

College of International and Hospitality Management is committed to providing quality

education by offering a wide range of theoretical and practical knowledge and skills through

various aspects of hospitality management which is necessary to every student in becoming

competent individuals of society.

The above discussion has evaluated the skills of tourism students who graduated from the

UPHSD -Molino, particularly, their technical, managerial, research, leadership, human relation,

and communication skills. The null hypothesis, in which the researchers assumed no significant

difference in the employability skills of the respondents, was rejected.

The graduates of each batch rated themselves differently on various skills because of the

different situations and factors that affected them during their study.

According to the summary of data on different employability skills of tourism graduates,

the researchers found significant differences in the employability skills of the respondents.

In their analysis, the researchers gleaned that Tourism graduates have strong potential for

employment as they have acquired the necessary tourism skills.

Along with the Tourism skills, the institution can improve the quality of teaching by

bringing students outside the classroom setting such as seminars, hotel and airline

familiarizations, tour guiding competition and other tourism-related activities for them to fully

experience and understand their field. Because the researchers believe that learning never stops

in the four walls of the classroom itself instead they need to be exposed.

Hiring faculty who are equipped with background and experience in the tourism industry

and related jobs, such as those employed in tourism bureaus in government or tourism-related

businesses, and those who have experience in organizing events/programs and activities.

Certificates of accreditation from the DOT and other organizations such as TESDA on tour

guiding, travel management, and so on would help instructors in molding and developing

students as better tourism industry professionals with high employability. Faculty with tourism

industry experience can share more of their familiarity with the industry that is not purely

textbook-dependent.

In terms of technical skills, revealed as a weakness among the graduates, the University

should extend utmost effort to provide facilities of the tourism college such as ticketing office

with systems of Fidelio, Abacus, and Amadeus. Offer different language course in every year for

them to be globally competitive.

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