Evaluation of the Role of Learning Methods in Developing Graduate Competencies in Bachelor of Information Technology Education Alumni

This study aims to evaluate the role of learning methods in developing the competencies of graduates of the Information Technology Education Study Program at Surabaya State University based on the alumni's perspective. The study used a descriptive quantitative approach with a tracer study method to identify the relationship between the learning process, graduate competencies, and alumni's work readiness. Data were obtained by distributing questionnaires to alumni who have worked in both educational and non-educational fields. Analysis was conducted descriptively to describe the level of graduate competency and the effectiveness of the learning methods applied during the study period. The results showed that most alumni were successfully absorbed in the workforce with competencies relevant to industry needs. Competencies that received the highest scores included ethics, the ability to use information technology, communication, teamwork, integrity, loyalty, and the ability to work independently. These findings indicate that the learning process has been able to support the development of professional and interpersonal competencies needed in the workplace. However, English competency remains the aspect with the lowest score compared to other competencies and therefore requires strengthening through the integration of bilingual learning, the use of international references, and English-based academic activities. The study also found that the most dominant learning methods used were discussions, lectures, demonstrations, and practicums. The high use of discussion methods reflects the implementation of a student-centered learning approach that encourages active student participation. Meanwhile, experiential learning methods such as research projects, internships, and fieldwork remain relatively underutilized. Therefore, study programs need to strengthen experiential learning through increased internship programs, industry collaborations, project-based learning, and student involvement in research to better prepare graduates for the challenges of the workplace and the global digital transformation.

Tracer Study, Competence, Learning Methods

1. Abelha, M., Fernandes, S., Mesquita, D., Seabra, F., & Ferreira-oliveira, A. T. (2020). Graduate Employability and Competence Development in Higher Education — A Systematic Literature Review Using PRISMA. Sustainability, 12(15), 5900. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155900 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Arief, R. (2012). USAHA PENINGKATAN KOMPETENSI SOFTSKILL MELALUI STUDENT CENTERED-LEARNING BAGI MAHASISWA YANG MENGIKUTI MATA KULIAH ANALISA PERANCANGAN SISTEM. Jurnal Pendidikan Teknologi Dan Kejuruan, 21(1), 11–22. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21831/jptk.v21i1.3336 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Castro-Lopez, A., Monteiro, S., Bernardo, A. B., & Almeida, L. S. (2022). Exploration of employability perceptions with blended multi-criteria decision-making methods. Education + Training, 64(2), 259–275. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-07-2021-0296 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Chukwuedo, Samson Onyeluka, & Ementa, Christiana Ngozi. (2022). Students’ work placement learning and employability nexus: Reflections from experiential learning and social cognitive career theories. Industry and Higher Education, 36(6), 742–755. https://doi.org/10.1177/09504222221099198 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Clements, M. D., & Cord, B. A. (2013). Assessment guiding learning: developing graduate qualities in an experiential learning programme. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 38(1), 114–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2011.609314 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Dadelo, S., & Vinogradova-zinkevic, I. (2026). Developing Academic Soft Skills in Higher Education : The Role of Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. Journal of Advanced Academics. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932202X261438960 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Duchatelet, D., Cornelissen, F., & Volman, M. (2024). Features of Experiential Learning Environments in Relation to Generic Learning Outcomes in Higher Education : A Scoping Review. Journal of Experiential Education, 47(3), 400–423. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259231211537 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Dzomeku, V. M., Kusi Amponsah, A., Boateng, E. A., Antwi, J., Adoliwine Amooba, P., Deo Gracious, P., Armah, J., & Bam, V. (2024). Tracer study to assess the employability of graduates and quality of a nursing program: A descriptive cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 20, 100673. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2024.100673 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Eimer, A., & Bohndick, C. (2023). Social Sciences & Humanities Open Employability models for higher education: A systematic literature review and analysis. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8(1), 100588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100588 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Fajaryati, N., Pambudi, S., Priyanto, P., Sukardiyono, T., Utami, A. D. W., & Destiana, B. (2015). STUDI PENELUSURAN (TRACER STUDY) TERHADAP ALUMNI PROGRAM STUDI PENDIDIKAN TEKNIK INFORMATIKA JURUSAN PENDIDIKAN TEKNIK ELEKTRONIKA FAKULTAS TEKNIK UNIVERSITAS NEGERI YOGYAKARTA. Elinvo (Electronics, Informatics, and Vocational Education), 1(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21831/elinvo.v1i1.10878 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. García-Álvarez, J., Vázquez-Rodríguez, A., Quiroga-Carrillo, A., & Caamaño, D. P. (2022). Transversal Competencies for Employability in University Graduates: A Systematic Review from the Employers’ Perspective. Educ. Sci, 12(3), 204. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12030204 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Gómez-Tejedor, J. A., Vidaurre, A., Tort-Ausina, I., Molina-Mateo, J., Serrano, M.-A., Meseguer-Dueñas, J. M., Martínez Sala, R. M., Quiles, S., & Riera, J. (2020). Effectiveness of flip teaching on engineering students’ performance in the physics lab. Computers & Education, 144, 103708. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103708 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. González-Cacho, T., & Abbas, A. (2022). Impact of Interactivity and Active Collaborative Learning on Students’ Critical Thinking in Higher Education. IEEE Revista Iberoamericana de Tecnologias Del Aprendizaje, 17(3), 254–261. https://doi.org/10.1109/RITA.2022.3191286 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Hadiprayitno, G., Jufri, A. W., & Nufus, S. S. (2020). Mapping of Students’ Scientific Literacy Skills at Mataram. Science Education Journal (SEJ), 4(2), 99–110. https://doi.org/10.21070/sej.v4i2.969 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Hadiyanto, H. (2024). Application of Student-Centered Learning in Improving Teaching English as a Foreign Language Students’ 21st-Century Skills Performance. Educ. Sci, 14(9), 938. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14090938 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Haryanta, D., & Dihardjo, D. (2026). Tracer Study Sebagai Instrumen Evaluasi Kualitas Layanan Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi. Mudir : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 8(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55352/mudir.v8i1.1723 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Hoidn, S. (2020). Beyond the student-centered higher education classroom: The student-centered ecosystems framework. ETH Learning and Teaching Journal, 2(2), 191–195. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.16906/lt-eth.v2i2.130 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Husni, M., Idrus, M., & Hasyim, H. (2022). Tracer Study Alumni : Upaya Pengembangan Program Studi Pendidikan Akuntansi Universitas Negeri Makassar. INSIGHT : Indonesian Journal of Social Studies and Humanities, 2(1), 99–109. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26858/.v2i1.31423 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Hutton, A. (2020). The Efficacy of the Flipped Classroom Technique in Undergraduate Math Education : A Review of. ArXiv, 1–24. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2010.11393 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Johansyah, R., Julaiha, S., & Muadin, A. (2025). GRADUATE QUALITY MANAGEMENT STUDY: EXPLORING GRADUATE TRACER STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION (OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES). Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 10(2), 584–592. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.34125/jmp.v10i2.552 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Kocak, O., Coban, M., Aydin, A., & Cakmak, N. (2021). The mediating role of critical thinking and cooperativity in the 21st century skills of higher education students. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 42, 100967. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2021.100967 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Kolb, D. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience As The Source Of Learning And Development. In Englewood Cliffs. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Lantu, D. C., Suharto, Y., Fachira, I., Permatasari, A., & Anggadwita, G. (2021). Experiential learning model: improving entrepreneurial values through internship program at start-ups. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 12(1), 107–125. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-01-2021-0014 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Masek, A. (2019). Mode and Dimension of Facilitation in Student-Centred Learning Approach: A Comparison of Teaching Experience. International Journal of Active Learning, 4(1), 24–32. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Nastiti, R., & Normalina, N. (2022). Persepsi Mahasiswa Program Studi Manajemen terhadap Penerapan Student-Centered Learning dalam Upaya Pelaksanaan Pembelajaran Aktif. JPEKA: Jurnal Pendidikan Ekonomi, Manajemen Dan Keuangan, 6(2), 89–100. https://doi.org/10.26740/jpeka.v6n2.p89-100 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Patiño, A., Ramírez-Montoya, M. S., & Buenestado-Fernández, M. (2023). Active learning and education 4.0 for complex thinking training: analysis of two case studies in open education. Smart Learning Environments, 10(8). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-023-00229-x [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Pratiwi, R., & Rahmawati, A. (2020). Tracer Study Terhadap Respon Stakeholder untuk Evaluasi dan Pengembangan Kurikulum Program Studi. At-Taqaddum, 12(1), 55–75. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21580/at.v12i1.5281 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Rachelle, M. (2026). Exploring Graduate Employability through Self- Determination and Constructivist Perspectives : A Tracer Study of Postgraduate Alumni. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 15(3), 211–242. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32674/yf6xbj53 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Rahmadani, A. F., Suryani, K., Khairudin, Rahmalia, A., Arpansi, N. A., & Putri, S. D. (2025). HUBUNGAN KOMPETENSI ABAD 21 DENGAN KESIAPAN KERJA MAHASISWA FKIP. Edukasi: Jurnal Pendidikan, 23(2), 390–405. https://doi.org/10.31571/edukasi.v21i1.9040 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Renny, Chandra, R., Ruhama, S., & Sarjono, M. W. (2013). Exploring Tracer Study Service in Career Center Web Site of Indonesia Higher Education. (IJCSIS) International Journal of Computer Science and Information Security, 11(3), 36–39. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1304.5869 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Sadikin, S., Sujana, D., & Ariyani, E. D. (2023). STUDI PENELUSURAN (TRACER STUDY) ALUMNI SEBAGAI SARANA PEMANTAUAN SERAPAN LULUSAN DI POLITEKNIK MANUFAKTUR BANDUNG. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen, Ekonomi, & Akuntansi (MEA), 7(1), 90–99. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31955/mea.v7i1.2850 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Safitri, H. D. A., Supriyanto, A., & Sobri, A. Y. (2023). COLLEGE ’ S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AS A FORM OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND ITS EFFECT TOWARDS STUDENTS ’ SKILL. IJEEM - Indonesian Journal of Environmental Education and Management, 7(1), 27–37. https://doi.org/10.21009/ijeem.v7i1.26288 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Scager, K., Boonstra, J., Peeters, T., Vulperhorst, J., & Wiegant, F. (2016). Collaborative Learning in Higher Education: Evoking Positive Interdependence. CBE Life Sci Educ, 15(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.16-07-0219 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Scheuring, F., & Thompson, J. (2025). Enhancing graduate employability – exploring the influence of experiential simulation learning on life skill development. Studies in Higher Education, 50(2), 256–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2334837 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Schreck, C. M., Weilbach, J. T., & Reitsma, G. M. (2020). Improving graduate attributes by implementing an experiential learning teaching approach: A case study in recreation education. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 26, 100214. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2019.100214 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Shrivastava, S., Bardoel, E. A., Djurkovic, N., Rajendran, D., & Plueckhahn, T. (2022). Co-creating curricula with industry partners: A case study. The International Journal of Management Education, 20(2), 100646. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2022.100646 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Subhaktiyasa, P. G. (2024). Menentukan Populasi dan Sampel: Pendekatan Metodologi Penelitian Kuantitatif dan Kualitatif. Jurnal Ilmiah Profesi Pendidikan, 9(4), 2721 – 2731. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.29303/jipp.v9i4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Succi, C., & Canovi, M. (2020). Soft skills to enhance graduate employability: comparing students and employers’ perceptions. Studies in Higher Education, 45(9), 1834–1847. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1585420 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Suleman, F. (2016). Employability Skills of Higher Education Graduates: Little Consensus on a Much-discussed Subject. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 228, 169–174. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.07.025 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Syaefudin, M., & Astuti, D. (2025). TRACING FRENCH ALUMNI CAREERS: INSIGHTS FROM UNNES TRACER STUDY. Proceedings of Fine Arts, Literature, Language, and Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. Villarroel, V., Benavente, M., Chuecas, M. J., & Bruna, D. (2020). Experiential learning in higher education. A student-centered teaching method that improves perceived learning. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 17(5). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.53761/1.17.5.8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Woodcock, C. S. E., Callewaert, J., & Millunchick, J. (2021). Synthesizing Definitions of Professional Competencies Linked to Experiential Learning in Engineering Education: A Literature Review. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(4). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i4.4214 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Yang, R., Yang, X., & Shabbir, M. S. (2026). Experiential learning in postgraduate education: Fostering professional skills and entrepreneurial mindsets. International Journal of Educational Development, 122, 103534. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2026.103534 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. Zetou, E., Papadakis, L., Vernadakis, N., Derri, V., Bebetsos, E., & Filippou, F. (2014). The Effect of Variable and Stable Practice on Performance and Learning the Header Skill of Young Athletes in Soccer. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 152, 824–829. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.09.328 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study