This quantitative descriptive correlational study examined the competence, professional development, and career path among business administration personnel in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) across Panay Island for the year 2025. Data were collected from 228 permanent teaching and non teaching personnel employed in SUCs located in Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, and Antique through purposive convenience sampling. Respondents were mostly younger, predominantly female, mostly married, and composed mainly of master’s degree holders, with many serving shorter tenure and engaged in teaching roles. A modified researcher made instrument, adopted from relevant literature, validated by experts, and tested for reliability, was used to measure competence, professional development, and career paths. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis H- test, and Spearman’s Rho correlation, were applied at the five percent level of significance. Findings showed that personnel’s competence was consistently rated very high, professional development was structured, and career paths were well- defined. Competence remained strong across demographic groups, but teaching staff, advanced degree holders, and longer serving personnel demonstrated higher ratings. Professional development was accessible across classifications, yet teaching staff and those with advanced education engaged more actively. Career paths were consistently structured across age, sex, and respondent type, but civil status and educational attainment shaped progression. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships among competence, professional development, and career path, with competence serving as a strong driver of growth and career progression. The study concluded that competence, professional development, and career paths were mutually reinforcing dimensions of personnel growth and institutional success in SUCs across Panay Island.
Padios et al. (Sat,) studied this question.