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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Business groups bat for skills dev't in PH

Business groups bat for skills dev't in PH

Published Aug 30, 2023 08:38 am

Business groups and skills' specialists are calling for increased cooperation among government agencies, industry leaders, and academic institutions to plug the gap on the country's workforce development.

The business associations and industry experts recently collaborated to host the Knowledge Exchange Forum on Competency Standards Development last Aug. 30 to 31 in Makati City. 

The forum included the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA). 

There were also experts from the United Kingdom, ILO, TESDA, Department of Trade and Industry, and Commission on Higher Education.

The forum tackled best practices and lessons among companies in high-value industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and information technology business process outsourcing (IT-BPO). 

The attendees also discussed the value of industry involvement in skill development and how to match curriculum with industry skill requirements using labor market information (LMI).

"By harnessing industry-driven insights we can provide informed labor policies and bolster our ability to build a better skills training system that empowers workers and supports their career growth. This, in turn, translates into a more resilient and thriving labor force driving growth and prosperity for the country," said ILO Country Office for the Philippines Director Khalid Hassan during the forum.

The event is a part of the UK government-funded and ILO-operated Skills for Prosperity Project in the Philippines. The project collaborates with important government departments, business associations, labor unions, and other stakeholders to strengthen the nation's technical-vocational education and training (TVET) systems and promote skill development. 

“At the heart of successful workforce development systems, is a meaningful collaboration among the government, industry, and academe…By aligning educational curricula with industry requirements, we create pathways of success for our graduates who are equipped with exact skills and knowledge sought by the job market,” PBEd Trustee George Barcelon said.

Industry associations emphasized the value of labor market intelligence for determining the sector's skill requirements. PBEd, through its A Future that Works Program gathers industry leaders and experts to publish LMI reports that help create competency standards that are driven by demand and direct worker training and upskilling. 

"The establishment of a robust LMI system is vital for aligning technical training with industry demands to facilitate seamless job-matching process. With our newly-launched National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan for 2023-2028, we count on greater cooperation with industry stakeholders in producing LMI to help inform area-based and demand-driven TVET programs," said TESDA Director-General Suharto Mangudadatu. 

As part of its efforts to assist Filipino employees in their career growth, upskilling, and education, PBEd has published LMI studies in the industries of analytics and AI as well as the manufacture of fruits and vegetables on its Sector Skills PH website. 

Meanwhile, the Analytics Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, and the Industry Human Resources Development Foundation developed sector skills' councils for each industry. (Ma. Joselie C. Garcia)

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