Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 7 no. 9 (2026)

Policy Analysis On Internship And Job Placement Programs In Nu Baliwag: Strengthening Industry–Academe Linkages For Graduate Employability

Jenny Rose DC. Naval | Roan I. Estay | Virginia Natividad-franco | Jim Carl M. Jose

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

Graduate employability remains a critical performance indicator for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) amid rapidly evolving labor market demands that require both technical competencies and career adaptability. This study adopts a descriptive evaluative research de-sign for evidence-based policy formulation to assess the effectiveness of internship and job placement programs implemented through the Academe–Industry Linkages and Placement Office (AILPO) of Na-tional University Baliwag. Data were collected from 120 graduates from Academic Years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 using a validated survey instrument. Findings revealed that 71.7% of graduates were employed and 11.6% were self-employed, resulting in an overall em-ployability rate of 83.3%. The effectiveness of AILPO services re-ceived an overall mean rating of 4.04, with job vacancy dissemination and career guidance services obtaining the highest ratings. However, post-employment follow-up emerged as the lowest-rated service area, indicating a significant policy gap in long-term graduate support and career monitoring. Program-level differences in employability were observed, with graduates from business and technology-related disciplines demonstrating stronger employment outcomes than those from tourism-related programs. Guided by Tomlinson's Graduate Capital Theory, the study proposes a lifecycle-based employability framework that integrates graduate tracking systems, alumni engage-ment initiatives, industry collaboration, and curriculum-embedded career readiness programs. The findings provide empirical evidence for strengthening institutional employability policies and advancing sustainable graduate career development beyond initial employment outcomes.



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