IS THERE A RETURN OF INVESTMENT? A TRACER STUDY OF GRADUATE DOST-SEI SCHOLARS IN SCIENCE

This paper seeks to know what happened to the graduates who availed of a DOST-SEI scholarship grant at the College of Education-Graduate School of a higher education institution in the Philippines. The data in this research were gathered through an online questionnaire; quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Both close-ended and open-ended questions were included. The participants in this research were the cohort of scholars and grantees from 2007 until 2013 who finished their master’s or doctorate degree. These scholars came from the MAEd (Physics & Biology) and PhD in Science Education (Biology Education) programs of the College of Education-Graduate School. The data were analyzed using mean scores, points, and thematic analysis. The study revealed that the DOST-SEI graduate students’ in Science were locally employed and had a permanent employment status. There was a high percentage of promotion among DOST-SEI scholar graduate students in Science, in which 68% were promoted while 32% were retained in their position or designation. In terms of their compensation, 68% have experienced an increase, while 32% have no increase in their salary. It implies a great assurance to be employed and has reasonable compensation if you are a DOST-SEI graduate scholar. The graduates were satisfied with the scholarship privileges and obligations that greatly contributed to their personality, family, career, and community. The extent to which the graduate science education program contributed to the scholar graduates research achievement enabled them to present their research paper at an International conference, receive any research-related recognition during or after the scholarship, publish their thesis/dissertation in a peer-reviewed journal, and to coach/adviser of a student who engaged in research or science investigation. The graduate scholars’ critical thinking skills showed excellent results in both the cognitive and affective domains. This indicates that the program gave a great extent to the essential skills of thinking of the graduate students’. On the other hand, the self-efficacy after undergoing DOST-SEI’s scholarship program greatly benefits the graduate student’s innate ability to achieve their life and career goals.

Keywords: DOST – SEI, College of Education, Western Visayas State University, Graduate School, Return of Investment.

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