The Government Academe Industry Network (GAIN) and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote digital competencies in the country.
Under the MOU, which was signed on November 3, 2021, both parties agreed to collaborate on initiatives to ensure the global competitiveness of Filipinos.
Both GAIN and IBPAP will promote awareness of international standards in communications and digital proficiency. The two organizations support the establishment of specific National Targets for International English Standards using the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) used globally by students, teachers, administrators, and the workforce.
For the past four years, GAIN has promoted the adoption of international standards for communication and digital skills of the Philippine graduates and workforce through its national conferences and collaboration with various sectors.
This awareness campaign has prompted a Senate inquiry on the decline in English proficiency of Filipino students, the need to assess present curricula in elementary and high school, and encourage training and other learning approaches.
Sen. Pia Cayetano filed Senate Bill No. 62 which seeks to establish an Education Roadmap that shall provide a common national policy on education to enhance global competitiveness. It will also be a catalyst for the launch of the National Roadmap for Global Competitiveness in Communication Skills (NRGCCS) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with the goal of adopting the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages as a recognized metric for communicative competitiveness.
Representing GAIN for the virtual signing were its Chairman Dr. Peter Laurel, President Ms. Monette Iturralde-Hamlin, Vice President for Industry Linkages Ms. Grace Abella-Zata, Secretary Dr. Jocelyn Tizon, Treasurer Mr. Gerry Sanvictores, GAIN Executive Director Dr. Genevieve Ledesma-Tan, and Director Mr. Rex Wallen Tan.
Representing IBPAP were its President and CEO Jack Madrid, Trustee for Talent and Infosys Country Head Ayhee Campos, Executive Director for Talent Attraction & Development Frankie Antolin, Lead for Talent Attraction & Industry-Academe Linkages Zoe T. Diaz De Rivera, and Marketing and Communications Officer OJ Serrano.
IBPAP is the enabling association for the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry in the Philippines, serving as the one-stop information and advocacy gateway for the industry. With over 300 industry and support-industry members, IBPAP plays a pivotal role in sustaining rapid growth of the IT-BPM industry by working to ensure an enduring supply of high-quality labor, supporting service innovation, and providing country visibility. The IT-BPM industry directly employs over 1.3 million people with a multiplier effect of 4x and generated an estimated revenue amounting to $26.2 billion in 2020.
A non-profit organization, GAIN paves the path for the government, academe, and industry to identify and address workforce issues that can only be resolved through the collaborative efforts and synergy of experts and decision makers from the different sectors.
GAIN has entered into partnerships with various organizations for a stronger collective voice in pushing for the adoption of international standards, signing similar MOUs with renowned organizations from the Industry such as the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (TIBFI), Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS), and Asian Association of School HRMD Practitioners, Inc. (AASHPI), as well as Academic organizations such as the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP), Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA), and Association of Local Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (ALCUCOA).