23 September 2014
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has expanded its partnership in France with foreign and local private institutions to provide training and technical assistance for specialized skills.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Paris among TESDA, the Association of Carriers and Equipment Lessors (ACEL) Inc. and the Assistance Formation Conseils aux Enterprises Group (AFCE) will bind the agencies to cooperate to facilitate education and training collaboration for heavy equipment machine operation and safety in the construction industry.
Signing for ACEL was its president, Lito Garcia, while AFCE was represented by its chairman Eric Pierson.
"The understanding will result in more and better training opportunities for our youth, especially those aiming to enter the construction industry, and the creation of decent jobs that would stimulate the local economy," TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said.
"TESDA will take advantage to the fullest extent possible the opportunities provided by this deal to learn from the French vocational education model, exchange best practices and share resources for the development of technical vocational education and training (TVET) in the Philippines," Villanueva added.
The fields and forms of cooperation will focus on competency standards development, and assessment and certification, particularly in skills assessment for migration and occupational purposes.
It will also delve on benchmarking of occupational standards and qualifications; capability-building of TVET assessors and trainers; promoting networks to share successful models; and, interaction through meetings, conference and symposia.
AFCE is a private group of companies in France, engaged in training, technical assistance and expert advice in heavy equipment machine operations and safety in the construction industry.
ACEL is known in the Philippines as a private association of the equipment leasing for the construction industries and other allied related industries.
TESDA and ACEL have an ongoing partnership in the Philippines for the training of potential workers needed in the construction industry.
Villanueva said the deal came at an opportune time when the construction industry in the Philippines continues to boom, and as such, would entail high demand for skilled workers.
"We will be happy to pick up lessons from France, which we know prioritizes education and life-long learning, and which equips itself with the one of the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world," he said.
Earlier in Germany, Villanueva signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) for vocational training research and development.
The TESDA chief also witnessed the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent between the Philippines and Germany in furthering technical vocational education and training through consultancy, technical assistance, and exchange of information, experiences, best practices, joint research, study tours and expert meetings.
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