Career Progression of Doctor in Business Administration Graduates of the University of Cebu Graduate School: A Tracer Study

The Doctor of Business Administration is the terminal doctoral program for professionals in business administration. This unique, research-oriented program prepared students to work on corporate operational and strategic problems. The scope of the framework includes extensive research, coursework, evaluation, publication, and the final degree-awarding. The program is ideally designed to prepare future leaders who can bring innovative ways to navigate the demands of changing times and industry evolution. This study aims to determine the career progression of the Doctor in Business Administration [DBA] graduates of the University of Cebu Graduate School, S.Y. 2017-2024, to formulate a proposed program intervention plan.

This study employed a descriptive research design using the standardized Graduate Tracer Study (GTS) questionnaire of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The study was conducted at the University of Cebu Graduate School. Thirty-six (36) Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) graduates of the University of Cebu-Graduate School for the School year 2017 to 2024 participated in the study. A convenience sampling technique was used to identify and contact the target respondents. Simple percentages and rankings were used in the data analysis. Ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy were used in the data analysis.

Most respondents belonged to the age bracket of 36 to 40, were females, married, and had finished a doctorate. Moreover, their primary reason for taking the Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) program at the University of Cebu Graduate School was a strong passion for the profession. Further, all of them were employed at the time of the study. At the same time, the majority worked in a public organization (government) as instructors (professors), had a regular employment status, and worked for 1 to 5 years. More of them earned Php31,000.00 to Php40,000.00.

Furthermore, all of them assessed that the DBA curriculum of the University of Cebu graduate school was relevant to their first job, their degree was relevant to their current job and most of them primarily learned communication skills, human relations skills, problem solving skills critical thinking skills and leadership skills, while and the reasons for accepting their job was on salaries and benefits, career challenge and peer influence. The Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) graduates of the University of Cebu Graduate School were employable in various fields in the business industry, including academia. Since their reason for further studies was to earn attractive salaries and benefits, they aspire to career progression after graduation. However, their career progression cannot be fully established during the survey, as they were still applying for promotion and ranking, which will take considerable time. Further, the DBA program offers courses that prepare students to take significant organizational positions.

Keywords

Doctorate in business education, tracer study, career progression, curriculum relatedness and relevance, curriculum, competencies learned, descriptive, Cebu City, Philippines

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Career Progression of Doctor in Business Administration Graduates of the University of Cebu Graduate School: A Tracer Study

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