- By Perla G. Deocampo and Rowena M. Libo-on
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted among the fifty-two (52) supervisors from selected establishments in Iloilo City for school year 997-98 to determine CPU’s image through its practicum students as perceived by the supervisors in selected establishments in Iloilo City. The independent variables used were those pertaining to the supervisor’s personal profile such as age, sex and religious affiliation, work-related profile such as job position, length of service, the type of business, department or unit, number of years the establishment is accepting practicum students and the number of practicum students accommodated as well as the supervisor’s school-related factors such as the extent of knowledge about CPU and the sources of these knowledge while their perceived image of the institution was used as the dependent variable. Descriptive research design was used with the aid of a one-shot survey questionnaire distributed among the total population. Frequency tables were generated together with the means to describe the personal, work and school-related factors of the respondents. To describe difference in their perception of CPU’s image and relationships between personal, work, school-related factors, practicum students’ work performance and supervisors’ perceived CPU’s image, a cross tabulation tables were generated together with a chi square test set at 5 percent level of significance. The mean age of the supervisor was 37.44 years old and most of them were female supervisors and catholic by religion. Majority of them were rank and file employees with an average length of 11.14 years in service and mostly working in the accounting department of privately owned establishment. On the average, selected establishments have been accepting three practicum students from CPU for about six years now to be trained in their offices. The supervisors’ level of knowledge about CPU was rated ‘moderate’. Their sources of knowledge about CPU were from their relatives and friends or from themselves, being an alumni of CPU. Supervisors evaluation of CPU practicum students were honest, willing to perform tasks and neat and orderly in their work aside from being obedient, courteous, punctual, respectful, trustworthy, independent and responsible. Majority of them said that CPU practicum students have the comprehension, oral and written communication skills and could easily adapt to their working environment. Majority of the supervisors perceived that CPU is a ‘very good’ educational institution and all of them believed that CPU practicum students create a positive image for the institution. Among the personal, work and school-related factors used in the study, only the supervisor’s knowledge about CPU and the sources of this knowledge were significantly associated to their perception about CPU as an educational institution. However, none of the variables used by the supervisors to measure the practicum students’ work performance was found to be significantly related to the perceived image of CPU. Significant difference was found in the supervisors’ perception on the image of CPU when they were grouped by age. Also, significant difference in their evaluation of the practicum students’ being trustworthy was found when they were grouped according to sex. The College of Commerce should strengthen their image-building by intensifying its efforts in producing quality of graduates as the findings of the study revealed that supervisors who are alumni of CPU tend to have positive image of the institution. The dean and faculty members handling practicum subjects should continue to establish strong relationship with the different establishments through regular company visits to further build a good image for the university. The faculty members should include additional classroom activities that will further enhance and improve oral and written communication skills of the students as this was one of the identified weaknesses. To further give the university publicity, professors and administrators should be encourage in accepting invitations as lecturers in both public and private organizations which could lead to publications and could be a means by which the university will be known. It should also publish articles on the achievements and accomplishments of its alumni here and abroad to further build the reputation of the university as a quality and excellent institution of higher learning.