Career Success in University Graduates: Evidence from an Ecuadorian Study in Los Ríos Province

Abstract

Career success and its evaluation in university graduates generate growing interest in the academy when evaluating the university according to its mission and social mandate. Therefore, monitoring university graduates is essential in measuring career success in the State Technical University of Quevedo (UTEQ, acronym in Spanish). In this sense, this article aims to identify the predictive career success factors through survey application, development of two mathematical functions, and Weka’s classification learning algorithms application for objective career success levels determination in UTEQ university graduates. Researchers established a methodology that considers: (i) sample and data analysis, (ii) career success variables, (iii) variables selection, (iv) mathematical functions construction, and (v) classification models. The methodology shows the integration of the objective and subjective factors by approximating linear functions, which experts validated. Therefore, career success can classify university graduates into three levels: (1) not successful, (2) moderately successful, and (3) successful. Results showed that from 548 university graduates sample, 307 are men and 241 women. In addition, Pearson correlation coefficient between Objective Career Success (OCS) and Subjective Career Success (SCS) was 0.297, reason why construction models were separately using Weka’s classification learning algorithms, which allow OCS and SCS levels classification. Between these algorithms are the following: Logistic Model Tree (LMT), J48 pruned tree, Random Forest Tree (RF), and Random Tree (RT). LMT algorithm is the best suited to the predictive objective career success factors, because it presented 76.09% of instances correctly classified, which means 417 of the 548 UTEQ university graduates correctly classified according to OCS levels. In SCS model, RF algorithm shows the best results, with 94.59% of instances correctly classified (518 university graduates). Finally, 67.1% of UTEQ university graduates are considered successful, showing compliance with the university’s mission.

Navigating the Saudi Gig Economy: The Role of Human Resource Practices in Enhancing Job Satisfaction and Career Sustainability

“…The overarching synthesis of the literature unravels the dynamic and multifaceted conception of career sustainability, with individual and contextual factors wielding significant influence. While there is an academic consensus on the cardinality of these factors, the literature also illuminates notable points of contention, specifically concerning the relative weighting of individual versus contextual determinants and the efficacy of quantitative versus qualitative assessments [66]. This complexity is further compounded by exogenous factors such as the economic climate, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the unique challenges introduced by gig work [16,36,67].…”

Evaluación del perfil de egreso en el grado de educación según egresados y empleadores en una universidad peruana

“…El análisis y evaluación del desempeño de los egresados o titulados mediante la percepción de los empleadores, grupos de interés o por los mismos egresados han sido tratados por investigadores y académicos en diversas disciplinas profesionales. Al respecto, el éxito en la inserción laboral del egresado depende de la calidad de la formación profesional recibida en la universidad y se manifiesta en su desempeño durante el ejercicio de actividades (Pico-Saltos et al, 2021). Si bien los estudios se han revelado en muchas carreras profesionales, existe une brecha en el análisis de la carrera de Educación y ciencias pedagógicas.…”

Hierarchical Component Model (HCM) of Career Success and the Moderating Effect of Gender, from the Perspective of University Alumni: Multigroup Analysis and Empirical Evidence from Quevedo, Ecuador

“…Career success is a social construct that helps us understand an individual's goals and perceptions, what inspires him/her and enables him/her to make decisions, his/her personal values and what makes him/her happy at work [56][57][58]. For these reasons, studies in various fields, such as management [59,60], economics [61,62], human resources [63], organisational sciences and psychology [64][65][66], have become increasingly interested in exploring career success.…”

“…Similarly, Danziger and Valencia [95] found that individuals who experience congruence between their professional anchor and their work have higher levels of job satisfaction than those who do not. Therefore, this dimension included items that provide information about the relationship between the current job and the area of training and level of education, as well as the level of use of knowledge and skills acquired during university studies [56].…”

“…[56,132,133] ILCS_4 Optimism: Persistence in the achievement of the objectives. [56,134,135] ILCS_5Achievement: Effort to achieve a standard of excellence [56,87,130].…”