Influence of Public Administration Education on Alumni Career Development Trajectories

This study examined the influence of the Master in Public Administration program of Capiz State University on the career development trajectories of its alumni, guided by Donald Super’s Career Development Theory. A convergent mixed-methods research design was employed, in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the program’s impact. Quantitative data were gathered through a survey administered to fifty-two alumni, while qualitative data were obtained through selected alumni interviews to enrich and validate the statistical results. Quantitative findings revealed that the program exerted a very high level of influence on alumni career development across the establishment, maintenance, and decline stages. No significant relationship was found between career development stages and respondents’ profile variables, indicating that the program’s influence was consistent across diverse demographic groups. However, significant and strong relationships were observed among the three career development stages, confirming their interconnected and sequential nature as proposed by Super’s theory. Qualitative findings supported the quantitative results, showing that the program enhanced alumni leadership, management, analytical, and governance competencies, strengthened professional confidence, improved workplace performance, and facilitated career advancement. Alumni also expressed strong motivation for continuous learning and further professional development. Despite these positive outcomes, participants identified challenges in applying theoretical knowledge to real-world settings due to organizational constraints and limited institutional support. The study concludes that MPA program fosters a culture of continuous learning. Alumni’s desire to pursue advanced studies and professional development indicates that the program nurtures long-term academic and professional aspirations.