A Sex-Disaggregated Analysis of Competency Alignment between Employers and BS Entrepreneurship Graduates of Mariano Marcos State University

Abstract

In the ever-changing job market, aligning graduates' competencies with employers' expectations is crucial for universities to ensure their curriculum and teaching methods effectively prepare students for the workplace. This study assesses the gap between the importance of competencies and the actual performance of BS Entrepreneurship graduates as perceived by both graduates and employers. Utilizing descriptive research design, data were gathered from the employers and BS Entrepreneurship graduates. Gap analysis revealed that while there is generally good alignment between perceived importance and performance in areas such as business management, personal entrepreneurial competencies, and personal qualities/attitudes, discrepancies still exist. Notably, there is a minor misalignment in business/management competencies, where employers rate graduates' performance as meeting expectations to the optimum, while graduates self-assess their performance as exceeding expectations. The sex-disaggregated data analysis reveals that male graduates tend to overestimate their competencies, particularly in technical areas, leading to a disconnect between their self-assessment and employer expectations. In contrast, female graduates demonstrate a stronger alignment with employer perceptions, although they still have opportunities for improvement in technical skills, particularly in computer applications. These findings highlight the need for continuous curriculum and instructional improvements to better prepare graduates for the job demands.