The employment outcomes of Information Technology (IT) graduates from the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) in Naga City, Philippines, are shaped by a deliberate institutional strategy emphasizing employability.
This approach is influenced by the corporate stewardship of iPeople, Inc., a joint venture between the Ayala Corporation and the Yuchengco Group of Companies, which manages the university. The mission of UNC explicitly targets the goal of producing “employable and future-ready graduates” by creating a direct, structured pipeline from education to industry.
Institutional Framework for Employability
UNC’s framework to prepare IT and Computer Science graduates for the workforce is built around three pillars: centralized career services, the Professional Employment Program (PEP), and strategic industry partnerships.
Career Center and Placement Services
The Career Services and Placement Office, established in 2014, functions as the hub for student and alumni career support. Its activities include:
- Career counseling, self-assessment, and workshops for job readiness
- On-the-Job Training (OJT) placements in partner companies
- Annual career fairs featuring national and multinational employers such as IBM, BDO, Sutherland, and Accenture
- Online job boards linking students to opportunities through platforms such as Jobstreet and LinkedIn
UNC tracer studies indicate a 95% employment rate for graduates within six months of graduation, reflecting the impact of these services.
Professional Employment Program (PEP)
The PEP is a capstone initiative for graduating seniors across multiple disciplines, including IT. It immerses students in a simulated corporate environment for one semester. Features include:
- Classrooms configured as professional workplaces
- Real-world project assignments, evaluated by professional trainers
- Development of communication, teamwork, and workplace adaptability
Reported outcomes of PEP include:
- Doubling a graduate’s chances of employment within 90 days of graduation
- A 45% increase in starting salaries compared to peers outside the program
Parent company iPeople has set an internal benchmark for the PEP: 90% employment for participants within 90 days of graduation.
Strategic Industry Partnerships
UNC’s School of Computer and Information Sciences (SCIS) works with industry partners to align curricula with market demand. The most significant collaboration is with Accenture, which co-developed the Associate in Computer Technology (ACT) program:
- Graduates of ACT are guaranteed employment with Accenture under a “Fastlane Recruitment” pathway
- ACT coursework is ladderized and credited toward a BSIT or BSCS degree, enabling students to complete a bachelor’s degree in two more years while working
- Training is enhanced through the Accenture Technology Academy and a specialized “TechPEP” module
Accenture has described UNC graduates as “full-package hires” because of this model.
Employment and Salary Outcomes
While UNC does not release program-specific tracer studies exclusively for IT, several indicators highlight strong outcomes:
- Institutional Data: A 2023 tracer study of BS Business Administration graduates, conducted by UNC, found 52.8% employed in the Bicol region, 21.6% abroad, and most earning ₱10,000–₱20,000 entry-level salaries. Comparable tracking mechanisms exist for IT programs.
- IT Sector in the Philippines: National data shows IT and Computer Science graduates rank among the most in-demand and highest-earning fresh graduates.
- Indicative Salary Ranges for IT Careers:
- Software Developer/Engineer: ₱45,000 – ₱100,000
- Cybersecurity Analyst: ₱50,000 – ₱90,000
- Data Analyst/Data Scientist: ₱45,000 – ₱100,000
- Cloud Engineer (AWS, Azure, GCP): ₱60,000 – ₱110,000
- AI/ML Engineer: ₱70,000 – ₱150,000
UNC’s integration with industry partners, especially in IT and engineering roles, increases the likelihood of graduates entering these high-paying fields.
Career Pathways for IT Graduates
UNC’s BSIT and BSCS programs prepare graduates for diverse technical roles, including:
- Application and Web Developer
- Technical Support Specialist
- Network Engineer
- Systems Administrator
- Emerging roles in data science, cybersecurity, and AI/ML
These pathways are strengthened by the university’s combination of academic rigor, corporate-style training, and employer partnerships.
See Also
School of Computer and Information Sciences (UNC)
Professional Employment Program (UNC)
Associate in Computer Technology (UNC)
References
- Wikipedia. University of Nueva Caceres. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Nueva_Caceres
- Wiki.org.ph. University of Nueva Caceres – Naga. https://wiki.org.ph/wiki/University_of_Nueva_Caceres
- Eskwelabs. Eskwelabs Signs MOA with University of Nueva Caceres for Data Analytics Program. https://www.eskwelabs.com/blog/eskwelabs-signs-moa-with-university-of-nueva-caceres-for-new-data-analytics-program
- DBPedia. About: University of Nueva Caceres. https://dbpedia.org/page/University_of_Nueva_Caceres
- UNC. Professional Employment Program. https://unc.edu.ph/academics/special-programs/professional-employment-program/
- UNC Marketing Master. Professional Employment Program. https://unc.edu.ph/professional-employment-program
- UNC. Career Center. https://unc.edu.ph/campus-life/career-center/
- UNC Marketing Master. Career Center Overview. https://unc.edu.ph/career-center
- Jobstreet. Fresh Grads Go For IT Jobs Infographic. https://www.jobstreet.com.ph/career-resources/fresh-grads-go-for-it-jobs-infographic
- Bicol Mail. UNC launches ACT powered by PEP and Accenture. https://www.bicolmail.net/single-post/unc-launches-act-powered-by-pep-and-accenture
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