Assessing Program Outcomes and Employability of Hospitality Management Graduates for Global Competitiveness

This tracer study assessed the program outcomes and employability of Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) graduates of West Visayas State University–Calinog Campus from 2016 to 2019. A descriptive–evaluative design was used, and 193 graduates were traced through purposive sampling, representing approximately 70% of the total graduate population. Data were gathered using a survey instrument adapted from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) guidelines and analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, t-tests, and ANOVA. Results showed that the majority of graduates were 21–24 years old with more females that males, and many were employed outside the hospitality sector. Despite this employment mismatch, respondents rated their attainment of program goals highly “much more than expected”. Significant differences were found by year of graduation and age, while sex, employment type, and job alignment showed no significant differences. Notably, the 2019 cohort reported lower attainment compared with earlier batches, reflecting the disruptions in experiential learning at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight the effectiveness of the program in meeting curricular objectives, yet emphasize the need for strengthened industry linkages, career adaptability initiatives, and continuous tracer studies to enhance graduate employability and global competitiveness. Keywords: Hospitality Management, Graduate Employability, Program Outcomes, Tracer Study, Curriculum Alignment, Global Competitiveness