Assessing the Impact of On-the-Job Training Program on the Academic Performance of Senior Students as a Basis to Strengthen the OJT Implementation for the UDM College of Business Administration Curriculum

Abstract

This action research is a qualitative study that explores the impact of the On-the-Job Training Program on the Academic Performance of Senior Students as a Basis to Strengthen the OJT Implementation of Universidad de Manila in the College of Business Administration. The study was participated by 9 students of different courses currently completing the OJT requirements of 600 hours for the last semester at the university. The OJT students are deployed in different government and private entities whose tasks are related to the courses that they are pursuing. The Methodology Research Design used is Phenomenological Research Design that employs- Purposive Sampling (selecting participants who have experienced the phenomenon of interest). The Data Collection Method used was In-depth Interviews (face-to-face or online) and Data Analysis Method: Thematic Analysis (identifying patterns and themes in the data) This paper aims to assess the influence of OJT on the selected students of UDM on their academic performance and identify challenges in balancing work and academic status. Through in-depth interviews and questionnaires, this paper gathers insights from OJT students about their challenges, motivations, and perceptions of the OJT program. The following findings are as follows: 1. the OJT program implementation influenced the academic performance as they executed Positive Impacts like: 1.1 Improved practical application, Enhanced understanding, Increased motivation, Development of soft skills, and better career preparation. Other skills developed during the OJT are: Technical skills, soft skills, and professional skills. The challenges encountered are: Lack of computer information knowledge; paperwork overload; scheduling conflicts; and difficulty in English communication. Other challenges were: Limited financial resources for commuting and daily expenses posed a challenge for them to attend office duties; Stress and burnout and Time Management. These student interns struggle to balance the demands of work and studies thus academic performance is affected. This study will now provide a basis for enhancing the OJT program and helping practicum students realize their academic goals. It will contribute to the understanding of the complex relationships between work, academics, and experiential learning. The authors recommend strategies to modify and revisit the curriculum of Senior students to improve the academic performance.