Technical Skills, Internship Experience, and Certification Perceptions as Predictors of Employability Readiness Among Technology Graduating Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.408Keywords:
Certification, Employability readiness, Internship experience, Multiple linear regression, Technical skills, Technology educationAbstract
Graduate employability is influenced by the extent to which students develop technical competencies, obtain meaningful workplace experience, and acquire industry-recognized credentials. This study examined the extent to which technical skills, internship experience, and certification perceptions statistically predicted employability readiness among graduating students in technology-related programs. The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional predictive research design. The respondents were 123 graduating students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education programs at the University of Southern Mindanao. Proportionate stratified random sampling was used to select respondents from the identified program-specialization strata. Data were collected using a researcher-developed 120-item questionnaire covering technical skills, internship experience, certification perceptions, and employability readiness. The instrument underwent evaluation by three doctoral-level experts in Technology Education Management and pilot testing with 30 students who were excluded from the final sample. Internal consistency coefficients were high across the four constructs, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from .978 to .990. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were performed using jamovi. The respondents reported high levels of technical skills, internship experience, certification perceptions, and employability readiness. The regression model was statistically significant, F(3, 119) = 84.20, p < .001, and explained 68.0% of the variance in employability readiness (R² = .680). Technical skills (β = .308, p < .001), internship experience (B = .406, p < .001), and certification perceptions (B = .194, p = .005) were significant positive statistical predictors. Among the predictors, internship experience demonstrated the largest standardized coefficient. The findings suggest that technical competence, meaningful workplace experience, and perceptions of professional certification are important factors associated with perceived employability readiness among technology graduating students. The findings should be interpreted as statistical associations within the study context rather than causal effects.
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