The EDUtech 2023 Policy Summit for Asia was held last November 8-9, 2023 at the Sands Expo Singapore.  The occasion was attended by the leading policymakers from Asia including the Philippines, with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) represented by the dynamic Regional Director Angelina M. Carreon of TESDA MIMAROPA.  RD Carreon shared her insights on the topic ‘Skill Up or Ship Out: Designing Policy Frameworks to Foster Digital Skills in every Learner: the Philippine Scenario’. 

She mentioned that designing policy frameworks to foster digital skills in the Philippines is crucial for preparing the workforce for the digital age.  She shared the successful implementation of technology in the education and training sector through the TESDA Online Program (TOP) which is the national e-learning platform for TVET. It became the prominent mode of online learning during the COVID 19 pandemic and has allowed TESDA to deliver TVET at the convenience of the learners. TESDA is also implementing other programs to future proof the players in the TVET sector. These include agile and flexible policies and guidelines, improvement in the IT infrastructure, capacity building for trainers and integration of digital skills in the Training Regulations.   With these, graduates from the technical education and skills development programs can keep up with the present technology and be competitive in the global market.

Another testament to TESDA’s pursuit to innovation and excellence in education is its adoption of extended reality or XR technology in training and competency assessment (initially in welding, and other construction and manufacturing related qualifications). This was made possible through the support and cooperation of the International Labor Organizations (ILO), European Training Foundation (ETF), and Asian Development bank (ADB).

The EDUtech Asia is devoted to education leaders, EdTech supporters and solution providers from across the region.  This is the avenue and opportunity where they can disclose their achievements, approaches and policies for the prospect of education, and being influenced in the hastening of digitalization.