by Melinda Advincula Mathers, Programmes Manager, Education
British Council Steers the Philippine Skills Sector
October saw an important programme that brought together key players from the UK and the Philippines to discuss policies and strategies that could provide better support to Philippines’ skills sector. The policy dialogue, entitled Mind the Skills Gap: The Philippine Context, was of high level representation, led by keynote speakers Senator Sonny Angara; the Director General for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Secretary Irene M. Isaac; and Caroline Roberts, Assistant Director of the UK Commission on Employability and Skills (UKCES). Also in attendance were the decision makers from the government, academe and the industry sectors.
The two-day policy dialogue, which runs across British Council’s work on education, science, arts, social enterprise and English for Education Systems, presented the Philippines’ landscape on skills, employability and competitiveness. It provided opportunities for over 100 attendees — policy makers and practitioners — to network and share knowledge on skills and exchange perspectives on international and national agenda on skills and employability vis-a-vis the current demand.
The insights gathered from the event are vital inputs for the British Council to further the skills works in the Philippines.
