05 July 2014
Dreaming to come up with the next smash hit app or being the architect of the software system of corporations?
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in partnership with the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), may offer some answers through courses on software development.
TESDA recently tapped P32.34 million from its Training for Work Scholarship Program to make available a total of 1,078 slots for free training of incoming workers and re-tooling of the skills of existing workers.
The Memorandum of Agreement between TESDA and PSIA signed Friday (July 4) firmed up the plan for the beneficiaries of the training program.
Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, said technical vocational graduates should be able to corner the employment opportunity in the market for software developer.
Between 2014 and 2016, Villanueva said that the industry would be needing 15,000 to 20,000 software developers.
"In a world of fast-changing and ever-expanding technology and gadgets, and corporate needs, there will always be plenty of demand. We want to be at the forefront of this opportunity of providing the skills needs of the industry," he said.
The TESDA chief said that the information communications technology sector will remain one of the driving forces of a globally-competitive economy, thus, it is imperative for the government to support the industry.
TESDA and PSIA will jointly manage the scholarship fund, subject to the TWSP guidelines.
PSIA will endorse training institutions with TESDA-registered programs to undertake the training of qualified applicants. Technical vocational institutions with high employment track record will be prioritized.
PSIA targets an employment rate of at least 80 percent of the graduates within six months from their graduation. There will be a Talent Development Fund that will be developed, managed and utilized solely by PSIA to sustain the training of their needed workforce.
The courses that will be offered are on Microsoft.NET, Java, Oracle, RPG, and Cobol.
PSIA is a trade association composed of over 170 software development and information technology companies that include software vendors, software developers, software training companies and institutions.
Villanueva signed the agreement for TESDA, while PSIA was represented by its president, Jonathan Gurango. Also present during the signing were Jose Mari Mercado, president of the IT Business Process Association of the Philippines; Rachel Joaquin, former PSIA executive director; and Natalie Hunter, program manager of PSIA capability development.
Training of the country's software developers gets a boost with the partnership between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Philippine Software Industry Association. Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, and Jonathan Gurango, PSIA president led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement.
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