Programme Outcome Measurement through Triangulated Evidence: Direct Attainments and Indirect Assessment in a Data Communication & Network Course

This study examines Programme Outcome (PO) measurement in the ETC574: Data Communication & Network course under the Bachelor of Technology (Digitalization and Automation) programme at UiTM Pasir Gudang, adopting a triangulated approach to provide robust evidence of outcome achievement. Direct assessment of Course Outcomes (CO) showed that all targeted outcomes exceeded the University Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of 65 %, with CO1 mapped to PO2 (Problem Analysis), attaining 70.15%, CO2 mapped to PO5 (Modern Tool Usage) attaining 77.5%, and CO3 mapped to PO10 (Communication), attaining 79.33%. Indirect assessment through Student Feedback Online (SuFO), based on 27 respondents from two classes, recorded an overall satisfaction score of 95.86%, with strong ratings for lecturer professionalism, teaching clarity, and student confidence. Entrance–Exit Survey (EES) results further confirmed significant learning gains, with entry self-assessments averaging 1.2 and exit ratings averaging 4.6 on a five-point scale, reflecting an average improvement of 3.4 points across ten skill domains including networking concepts, simulation tools, and communication skills. The triangulation of direct attainment, student feedback, and self-reported learning gain demonstrates that ETC574 course effectively supports the achievement of PO while highlighting areas for enhancement, such as reinforcing conceptual understanding at the physical/network layer and addressing infrastructure-related concerns. This study offers a course-level model of PO measurement that strengthens accreditation readiness and contributes to continuous improvement in engineering technology education.