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(+632) 88014447Industry organisations learn about Australia’s skills system to address Philippines’ job-skills mismatch
PBEd | May 10, 2021
Philippine industry organisations keen to support skills development met recently in a webinar to examine the workforce sector to narrow the gap between jobs and skills. Drawing from Australia’s experience, these organisations are being supported under a partnership between the Australian Government and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) to become Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) that could plan and implement skills development initiatives for present and future workforce needs.
On 29 April, PBEd hosted a webinar to discuss the experience of Australia’s skills system. The webinar was part of the Australian Government supported initiative, the ‘A Future that Works’ (AFW) Project, which seeks to foster greater collaboration among industry to address the skills challenges and opportunities brought by the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (4IR), and enhance the competitiveness of Philippine industries. Participants from three emerging industries: the semiconductor & electronics, food manufacturing, and analytics sectors, prominent Philippines business leaders, together with the National Industrial and Academe Council, joined Australian Embassy representatives to learn about the Australian approach to building the skills sector.
“In a widely changing economy, a long-standing challenge has prevented us from thriving into global competitiveness – the job-skills mismatch. We ought to do something about it, and the time is now. What will our workforce look like in 10, 20, or 50 years? Will we have successful young people, will there be enough gainful employment that leads to better lives?,” Mr. Fred Ayala, Chief Executive Officer of Ayala Corporation AC Education said in his opening remarks.
“We recognise the Philippines’ efforts in dealing with the challenges presented by the digitalisation of work, especially on the dislocation of low-skilled workers. Australia, like the Philippines, is also facing this challenge, and we have a lot to learn from each other,” Australian Ambassador Steven J Robinson AO said in his message to PBEd. “There is high potential for skills development to contribute to a mature and resilient economic partnership between our countries, as we celebrate this year the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations.”
The Australian Embassy’s Development Counsellor Mr. Thanh Le PSM stated in his opening remarks that collaboration with the private sector was essential in delivering the right skills. “Australia’s COVID-19 development response in the Philippines emphasises the need to help address rising unemployment due to the pandemic and assist in creating new jobs through skills training that respond to labour demands,” he said.
The webinar featured Australia’s Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) Assistant Secretary for Industry Advice, Ms Rachel Livingston, who provided an overview of the Australian Government’s policies on workforce development, its strategy and support for the overall skills system. Mr Patrick Kidd OBE OAM, CEO of Digital Skills Organisation Australia, discussed his organisation’s operations and engagement with the Australian Government on skills-related issues.
PBEd and Australia advocate for industry-led transformation of the Philippines skills system through the development, operationalisation and sustainability of sector skills councils.
“We need to learn practical ways to collaborate with the Government and Academe to contribute to the national skills development effort. Let us fight for the future of our country’s workforce. Let us sow good seeds such as promoting demand-driven Technical and Vocational Education and Training and skills development, that will benefit us in the years to come,” PBEd Executive Director Love Basillote said.