Professional achievement profile and emotional competencies in relation to the career path of agriculture graduates

Abstract

The study determined the professional achievement profile and emotional competencies in relation to the career path of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture graduates of Aklan State University. The respondents were the 320 employed BSA graduates from 1978-1979 to 2003-2004. Questionnaire check-list was employed in gathering the necessary data. Results revealed that majority of the employed BSA graduates were working in education and agrarian, agricultural, and environmental resource services. They occupied Level two position in their job and receiving a fair monthly salary. Many of them had not pursued advanced studies, no awards of distinction, consultancy, and scholarship/fellowship. Majority of them had worked in public agencies alone for more than a decade and the same with those who worked in both private and public agencies. Many of them have one eligibility and attended an average of ten relevant trainings. They assessed their emotional competencies as High level both in personal and social competence. Majority of the employed graduates had vertical advancement in their career path. In addition, many of them had accepted lateral movements within their workplace which included both spiral and expert career path. Attending specialized skills training rose to the top as a measure to enhance their career path. The professional achievement profile of the graduates that were significant correlates of both their vertical and lateral career path were advanced studies pursued, length of service in public agency, length of service both in the public and private agencies, number of relevant trainings amended, awards of distinction, number of eligibilities and basic monthly income. Finally, the graduates' personal and social competencies were significant correlates of their vertical career paths while their social competence significantly related with lateral career path.