Relevance and Applicability of the Master of Arts in Educational Management Curriculum to Graduates' Professional Work: Basis for Curriculum Enhancement

Abstract

Higher education institutions are expected to continuously evaluate graduate programs to ensure that curricular offerings remain relevant, responsive, and aligned with the evolving demands of professional practice. This study assessed the relevance and applicability of the Master of Arts in Educational Management (MAEM) curriculum of Guagua National Colleges to the current professional work of its graduates and identified areas for curriculum enhancement. Using a quantitative descriptive-comparative research design, data were collected from 33 MAEM graduates through a structured survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and ranking were utilized to analyze quantitative data, while thematic analysis was employed to examine graduates' recommendations. Results revealed that most graduates occupy positions closely related to educational leadership and management, with 87.88% indicating that their present work is highly related or related to educational management. The overall relevance and applicability of the curriculum obtained a very high rating (M = 4.69), while the adequacy of competencies developed through the program received a mean rating of 4.67. Human Resource and Organizational Management emerged as the highest-rated competency area (M = 4.76), whereas Problem-Solving and Evidence-Based Decision-Making obtained the lowest mean rating (M = 4.64), though still interpreted as very high. Graduates recommended strengthening content related to digital leadership, educational technology, artificial intelligence, instructional leadership, research utilization, and experiential learning. Based on these findings, a Responsive MAEM Curriculum Enhancement Framework was proposed. The study concludes that the MAEM curriculum remains highly relevant to current professional requirements but should continuously evolve to address emerging educational challenges and technological advancements.