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Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
ABSTRACT
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
INTRODUCTION
The same law also defines an architect as a person who is professionally and
academically qualified, registered, licensed, and legally allowed under the
Professional Regulation Commission-Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture
(PRC-PRBoA) to practice architecture who shall affix his signature and seal on all
architectural plans, drawings, specifications, and all other contract documents
prepared by him or under his direct supervision.
Based on tuition fee rates for school year 2010-2011 (DOLE 2012), an
Architecture degree costs around P30,000 to P45,000 per semester in private schools
and universities while tuition fees in public educational institutions offering the same
program would cost about 20 percent to 40 percent less.
The UNP College of Architecture maintains a record of its graduates and ALE
passers. However, there are no updated records or documents as to who are
gainfully employed commensurate to their architecture education and training that
prepared them to work in the industry.
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
It is on this premise that this research was conducted. The UNP College of
Architecture hopes to trace the employment competitiveness of its graduates along
place of employment, work status, and work assignments. The results will provide a
basis for the College to continue improving its curriculum, teaching methods,
approaches, and the learning styles of students as well.
The study aimed to determine the employment status of the graduates- both
RLAs and underboard- of the College of Architecture, University of Northern
Philippines, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur from School Years 2001 to 2011 in terms of year of
graduation, place of employment, work assignment, and work status, and work
related to the degree.
Under CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) no. 61, s. 2006, a school offering
Architecture is required to follow a curriculum relevant to the present needs and
latest international standards which will provide students with comprehensive
knowledge, skill, and competence in the field; the totality of their growth and
development within the framework of democratic ideals and values; and the
preservation, conservation, and promotion of Filipino architectural heritage within
the global context.
Thus, CHED, through its Technical Panel for Architecture, Engineering, and
Technology Education has formulated a Graduates Competency Standards for the
Bachelor of Science In Architecture to attune the architecture program to the goals
and mission of CHED and the nation and make architecture education responsive to
the growing demands for human resources in business and industrial world. Below
is a list of the competency standards:
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
On the other hand, Navarro, et al., (2003) in their study stated that
employability is a measure of the productivity of education because it is reflective of
the economic value added to the person who underwent the educative process; that
one of the indicators that a school has fulfilled its mission statement is through the
employability of its graduates, adding that employability is usually measured in terms
of waiting time.
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
Likewise, Navarro, et al. (2003) confirm that drafting subjects are basic to the
jobs of Architecture and Engineering graduates who are mostly employed in
construction firms.
Below is an extraction from the Guide which gives the state of local
employment vis-à-vis in-demand land-based jobs under overseas employment
opportunities for architecture and related fields:
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
Major Occupational
Industry/Sector/Skill Country
Category
Professional, Architecture & Engineering: Malaysia, Macau, Middle
Technical, Medical, AutoCAD Draftsmen, East, Belgium, Germany,
and Related Firefighters, Engineers (Civil, Japan, Norway, KSA, Libya,
Workers Piping, Design, Seychelles, Macau, US,
Scheduling/Planning, Chemical, Korea, Middle East,
Mechanical, HVAC Design, Belgium, Spain, Italy,
Structural, Bio-Medical, Poland, Switzerland,
Communication and Denmark, Finland, Norway,
Agricultural), Emergency Brunei, Singapore, Taiwan,
Medical Technicians Switzerland, Israel, Japan
METHODOLOGY
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
also imply that the Architecture profession is growing in demand locally and
overseas.
Work Assignment. Almost half (46 or 27.7%) of the respondents are CAD
Technicians/Operators, 33 (19.9%) are architects, an equal number of 29 (17.5%)
work as draftsman and along other fields, respectively; 23 (13.9%) work as
architectural designers; and the least (6 or 3.6%) are architectural inspectors. It can
be generalized that the work assignments of the respondents are related to
Architecture.
CONCLUSIONS
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Employment Status of Architecture Graduates of the University of Northern Philippines, F.N. R. Alonzo
UNP Research Journal Volume XXII January-December 2013 ISSN 0119-3058
LITERATURE CITED
Navarro, Remedios, et.al. (2003). The relevance and responsiveness of the course offerings of
the University of Northern Philippines to the manpower needs of region 1 (Vol.1),
Unpublished Dissertation, University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, (typescript).
Department of Labor and Employment. (2012). Employment guide for students & jobseekers
Commission on Higher Education. CHED Memorandum Order 61, s. 2006: Policies, standards
and guidelines for architecture education.
Online Sources
Department of Labor and Employment (2011). The Philippines labor and employment plan
2011-2016. Inclusive Growth Through Decent and Productive Work. Retrieved on April
22, 2012 from www.dole.gov.ph/fndr/bong/files/Employment%20Guide.pdf
The Centre for Education in the Built Environment. Enhancing the student learning
experience. Retrieved on April 22, 2012 from www.cebe.heacademy.ac.uk
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