ISSN: 1908-7691 (Online)

ISSN: 1908-7691 (Print)

DOI: to be posted...

Publication Frequency: Yearly

Editor-in-Chief

Emmanuel James P. Pattaguan, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academics, University Research and Development Center

Managing Editors

Dr. Marie Jean N. Mendezabal, PhD
Director, University Research and Development Center

Mr. Emilio A. Carag
Language Editor, University Research and Development Center

PERFORMANCE OF GRADUATES IN THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR ENGINEERS: A BASIS FOR PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT
Marie Jean N. Mendezabal and Emilio A. Carag

This study aimed to evaluate the licensure examination performance of the Engineering graduates from 2015-2018 with the goal of assessing the relevance and effectiveness of the Engineering Programs. The study made use of the descriptive research design. The performance of graduates in the licensure examination was generated from the data released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). It included the ratings of the graduates in each subject area cluster and the institutional performance. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that for the past four years, the institutional performance in the licensure examination for Electrical and Civil Engineers, as indicated by the overall average performance rating, was higher than the national passing percentage. On the other hand, USL’s performance in the Licensure Examination for Electronics Engineers is slightly less than the national passing percentage. The Electrical Engineering graduates obtained the highest average rating in Subject 1 (Mathematics) while the lowest rating was on Subject 2 (Engineering Sciences and Allied Subjects). For the Civil Engineering, Subject 2 (Hydraulics and Geotechnical Engineering) garnered the highest average rating while Subject 3 (Structural Engineering and Construction) had the lowest average rating. Meanwhile, the Electronics Engineering graduates attained the highest average rating in Subject 4 (Electronic System and Technologies) while they obtained the lowest average rating in Subject 2 (General Engineering and Allied Sciences). The performance of graduates in the licensure examination reflects the quality of the Engineering program.

Keywords: Engineering licensure examination, Licensure examination performance, Institutional passing percentage. Engineering program

Engineering Students’ Evaluation of their On-the-Job Training Program
Ertie C. Abana

This study was conducted to assess the implementation of the On-the-Job Training program of the University of Saint Louis specifically in the Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Computer Engineering programs. The respondents of the study were the 183 Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, and Computer Engineering students who had their OJT last summer of school year 2018-2019. The results revealed that the different provisions of the On-the-Job Training program of the School of Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology Education were implemented but there were some provisions that need to be worked on by the different engineering programs. The OJT program was effective in providing an actual working environment that will help prepare the students with the challenges they will face in their future workplaces. Discussion of major results and implications were also discussed.

Keywords: OJT Program, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Computer Engineering

PERCEPTIONS AND READINESS OF USL STAKEHOLDERS ON FLEXIBLE LEARNING
Jonalyn P. Santos, Ertie C. Abana, Darin Jan C. Tindowen, Marie Jean N. Mendezabal, Emmanuel James P. Pattaguan

This study was conducted to assess students’, parents’ and faculty members’ perceptions and readiness regarding the use of flexible learning. The study made use of a descriptive survey method. An online survey was conducted among students, parents and faculty members of the different departments: Elementary, Junior High School, Senior High School, College Departments and Graduate School. Three sets of questionnaires were prepared by the URDC to measure students’, parents’ and faculty members’ perceptions and readiness regarding the implementation of Flexible Learning in the university for the incoming academic year 2020-2021. . The results of this study indicate that parents and teachers are in favor of adopting flexible learning for the incoming academic year 2020-2021. The students and faculty members were also found to possess the basic tools that are needed for the adoption of flexible learning in the university. These tools include available devices or gadgets that have internet connectivity, available learning areas at home for flexible learning activities, basic ICT skills, and previous experience with online learning.

Keywords: Flexible learning, flexible learning modalities, flexible learning readiness

PERFORMANCE IN THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AS BASIS FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Marie Jean N. Mendezabal

This study aimed to assess the performance of graduates in the licensure examination for Certified Public Accountants from 2015-2018 for the purpose of assessing the relevance and effectiveness of the Accountancy Program. The study made use of the descriptive research design. The performance of graduates in the licensure examination was generated from the data released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). It included the ratings of the graduates in each subject area cluster and the institutional performance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that for the past three years, the University has posted a passing percentage much higher than the national passing percentage. Moreover, the performance rating of the graduates in the different subject area clusters revealed that they performed well in Subject 1 (Theory of Accounts) and Subject 3 (Management Advisory Services). The graduates obtained the highest mean rating in these two subject areas; however, they obtained the lowest mean rating on Subject 5 (Auditing Problems). The performance of graduates in the licensure examination reflects the quality of the Accountancy program.

Keywords: CPA Licensure Examination, licensure examination performance, Institutional passing percentage. Accountancy program, Accountancy graduates

EMPLOYABILITY OF ENGINEERING GRADUATES
Ertie C. Abana, Ariel M. Lorenzo, Ceferino Llamelo

This study assessed the employment status of Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Computer Engineering graduates for the past five years from SY 2011-2012 to SY 2015-2016 and the skills and competencies acquired in the University with the competencies desired in the industry. The results of a survey from 94 civil engineering, 39 electrical engineering, 105 electronics engineering, and 63 computer engineering graduates of the University of Saint Louis indicate that the majority are employed and able to get employed. They are working in industries where their course or expertise is directly aligned. The survey revealed that flexibility and work ethics skills are the soft skills/competencies that are useful in the present job of CE, EE and ECE graduates while computer skills and communication skills are the most useful soft skills for computer engineering graduates. Meanwhile, among the respondents, project management is the most useful hard skill in their present job.

Keywords: employability, skills/competencies, engineering graduates

STUDENTS’ SATISFACTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY
Jonalyn P. Santos

In the academic setting, determinants of the quality of academic and non-academic services provided to students can be inferred from the students’ overall university experience. This study made use of the descriptive survey method through an online survey conducted among college and high school students who enrolled in the school year 2018-2019. An institutionalized questionnaire developed by the University Research and Development Center, consisting of 69 items to measure students’ satisfaction along the following: Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, Faculty, Library, Physical Plant and Facilities, Student Services, School and Community, and General Experience was used. Frequency and percentage were used to analyze the data. Results showed that students are satisfied with the services provided by the different sectors of the academic community.

Keywords: students’ satisfaction, school services, higher education institutions

PERFORMANCE OF TEACHER EDUCATION GRADUATES IN THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS
Marie Jean N. Mendezabal

This study aimed to analyze the performance of teacher education graduates in the Licensure Examination for Teachers from 2015-2018 for the purpose of assessing the relevance and effectiveness of the Teacher Education program. The study made use of the descriptive research design. The performance of graduates in the licensure examination was generated from the data released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). It included the ratings of the graduates in each subject area cluster and the overall institutional performance. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results of the study showed that the three-year average performance of BSEd and BEEd graduates in the licensure examination was higher than the national passing percentage; however, the performance of the BSEd graduates was higher than the BEEd. The BSEd graduates obtained the highest mean score in the General Education subject whereas the BEEd achieved the highest mean score in Professional Education subject. The licensure examination performance of teacher education graduates reflects the quality of the Teacher Education program.

Keywords: Licensure Examination, licensure examination performance, Teacher Education program, Teacher Education graduates

DRIVERS OF FACULTY ENGAGEMENT AMONG USL FACULTY MEMBERS
Mrs. Gladys T. Tumbali

This study determined the drivers of engagement among full time faculty members of University of Saint Louis (USL). The descriptive-survey method of research was employed using a questionnaire administered to a total of ninety-eight faculty members. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings of the study revealed that the five drivers of faculty engagement namely Administration and Management, Workplace and Resources, Compensation and Benefits, Interpersonal Relationship, and Achievement and Recognition are all important factors that drive faculty engagement. Compensation and Benefits was found to be the most significant driver of faculty engagement followed by Achievement and Recognition, and Administration and Management. The Workplace and Resources was found to be less important among faculty members. Furthermore, it was shown from the result of the study that the drivers of engagement among faculty vary by department and by the highest educational attainment.

Keywords: Employee Engagement, Drivers of faculty engagement, Faculty Members

EMPLOYABILITY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GRADUATES
Mary Ann Bartolome, Fe-Rose Anne Ragojos, Rosemarie Hiquiana

The employability of university graduates is a concern in higher education as labor markets change more and more rapidly. This study assessed the employment status of BA graduates for the past five years from SY 2011-2012 to SY 2015-2016 and the skills and competencies acquired in the University with the competencies desired in the industry. The results of a survey from 873 Business Administration graduates of the University of Saint Louis indicate that majority are employed on a permanent status and able to get employed for an average of 4 months after graduation and are working in industries where their course or expertise are directly aligned. The survey revealed that communication skills, human relation skills and decision making skills are the soft skills/competencies that they learned in college and are useful in their present job. Meanwhile, among the Marketing graduates, advertising skills, marketing plan preparation and service/ product presentation skills are the top 3 learned hard skills in the school while among the Finance and Financial Management graduates, their top 3 were financial report preparation, cash management and technical analysis. Furthermore, majority of both the soft and hard skills learned in college were also valuable and suitable in their industries. It is therefore imperative that academic institutions should develop the skills and competencies among the students in order to match the demands and needs of the industry and to increase the graduates’ likelihood of desired employability while improving the strengths of the university towards its curriculum, instruction, school services, physical plant facilities, faculty, administration and affiliation/linkages.

Keywords: Employability, Skills/ Competencies, BA Graduates

GRAMMATICAL COMPETENCE OF TEACHER RDUCATION STUDENTS
Maria Leonora M. Cagurangan

This descriptive-correlational study assessed the grammatical competence of the Teacher Education students of University of Saint Louis using a Diagnostic test and on-the-spot essay. The findings revealed that the students were grammatically competent on Words and Sentences and Prepositions; but, they were not competent on the combined uses of Verbs, Prepositions and Adverbs, and Conditionals and Wish. However, they were intermediate on the use of Verbs, Modal verbs, Passive, Pronouns, Adjectives and Adverbs. Also, they need to improve more on these areas: on the combinations of Verbs, Prepositions and Adverbs, Conditionals and Wish, Questions, Negatives and Answers. It was further revealed that the grammatical competence of students does not vary regardless of sex and year levels; however, a significant difference on the grammatical competence exists when grouped according to specialization. The English major students were more competent as compared to the other fields. With respect to dialect, significant difference was seen on area of Modal Verbs and Reported speech. Lastly, there was a significant relationship between the GPA and the communicative competence of the students on both Grammar and Sentence Structure.

Keywords: grammatical competence, linguistic competence, teacher education students