Factors Influencing the Career Choice of the BIT-Food Technology Students SY 2023-2025

Abstract

This study investigated the factors associated with the choice of Bachelor of Industrial Technology (BIT) major in Food Technology among students enrolled in BIT-FT. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected from 86 respondents across three-year levels through a validated Likert-scale survey. The research examined three primary dimensions: Personal/Interpersonal, Institutional, and Socio-Economic factors. Statistical analysis using One-Way ANOVA revealed that there are no significant differences in the factors affecting career choice when respondents are categorized by age (p=0.165), sex (p=0.682), or Senior High School track (p=0.314). This indicates a unified motivational profile within the BIT Food Technology cohort, suggesting that the program attracts a specific demographic driven by consistent industrial interests regardless of their diverse academic or demographic backgrounds. Furthermore, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation analysis demonstrated a very strong positive relationship between Personal Factors and the final choice of major (r=0.91), followed closely by Institutional Factors (r=0.88). These results highlight that while students are primarily driven by internal passion and self-efficacy, the quality of university laboratories and the perceived industrial relevance of the curriculum serve as critical validation points for their commitment. Socio-Economic Factors also showed a strong correlation (r=0.82), reflecting the students' rational alignment with the "recession-proof" demand of the ASEAN food manufacturing sector. The study concludes that internal interest, supported by high-quality institutional facilities and clear marketability, remains the cornerstone of student recruitment and retention in industrial technology programs. It is recommended that the institution continues to prioritize laboratory upgrades to sustain this high level of student validation.