22 May 2016
The men and women to be soon introduced by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as its career ambassadors are not simply born, but are also made.
Last May 16 to 19, TESDA conducted a capacity-building program activity that trained 32 individuals who are being eyed as the agency’s poster boys and girls for the promotion of technical vocational education and training (TVET) this year.
Entitled A Step to Success, Shaping Up TVET Career Advocates, the program focused on developing role models for the young people – the country’s future workers – whom they can look up to in terms of successful career path.
“We want to expand the pool of career ambassadors or advocates who can qualify as spokespersons in influencing career seekers in making informed career choices,” TESDA Director General Irene Isaac said.
“Their role is making the youth, who are armed with skills, prepared for the world of work,” she added.
Isaac said the guidance that can be provided by the career ambassador can also be an effective tool in addressing the job-skill mismatch.
“The right choice for a course could help spell the success or failure of one’s career,” she said.
World-renowned executive chef and television host, Pablo “Boy” Logro was chosen as career ambassador for TVET in 2014.
From an ordinary houseboy, Logro worked hard to finish his tech-voc course, which helped his career flourish.
During the training, the career ambassadors were taught about personality development; organizing and preparing their speech; delivering motivational career talks; and, communicating effectively.
They also learned about coordinating various career activities such as career fairs, exhibits, parents orientation, and jobs bridging program. This year’s program included knowledge on greening skills; presenting speech on how to make sound career decisions based on labor market information; and, adeptness on marketing and promotion.
Because the career ambassadors will also be the number one promoter of TVET programs in the media, they were trained on facing various broadcast media such as talk shows and interviews.
To date, TESDA has 107 active career advocates, who were trained in 2014 and 2015. The recently-concluded program aims to reinforce the national and regional pool of TVET career ambassadors.
The career ambassadors may either be regional or national winners of the annual TESDA Idol search; ASEAN skills competition competitors or winners; Tatak TESDA regional or national winners; or, celebrities with wholesome image willing to commit his or her celebrity status to the program’s objectives.
The identification of the career ambassadors is one of the joint activities enrolled in the Career Guidance Advocacy Plan 2013-2016. This was initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment, and partners like TESDA, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology and the Professional Regulations Commission.
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