Examining the effectiveness of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila's hospitality management degree program in developing employable graduates.

The Hospitality Management degree program at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila aims to prepare students for successful careers and provide employable graduates in the hospitality industry. However, students face numerous challenges during their studies, such as limited laboratory exposure, faculty shortages, and restricted in-person classes, the standards of the industry, COVID-19 restrictions, and misconceptions about the degree program hinder students' development, which is essential for employability. With these challenges, the degree program may not effectively equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to acquire to be employable and may not fully provide the industry with work-ready graduates.

This study uses qualitative research to examine the effectiveness of the degree program in developing employable graduates. It focuses on alumni from 2022-2024 who experienced the university's blended learning approach. The study used quota sampling, with 100 alumni currently working in the industry selected as respondents.

The results suggest that PLM's Hospitality Management degree program has been successful in developing employable graduates, particularly in providing a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge. However, there are areas for improvement in practical application. There is a noticeable gap between students' dissatisfaction with the laboratory, internship, and training opportunities offered by the university. This indicates that students may not feel fully confident in handling real-world situations in the industry. Additionally, they expressed the need for more opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and to enhance their practical training, with greater exposure to industry practices. Lastly, the researcher suggests emphasizing hands-on learning, as well as improving the internship and training, to provide students with more practical experience and the guidance needed to handle real-world tasks in the hospitality industry.