The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to create a National industry Board for Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the agency said on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
TESDA said that the move was in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña and AAP President Colin Christie signed the MOA last Feb. 8.
Under the agreement, TESDA and the AAP shall collaborate to provide area-based and demand-driven technical vocational education and training (TVET) in analytics and artificial intelligence in the Philippines.
Specifically, TESDA shall capacitate the Industry Board to undertake its roles in the governance of TVET and provide AAP with access to needed resources such as scholarship grants and facilities in the development of industry workers.
For its part, AAP shall provide TESDA with the necessary labor market information which will be used by TESDA in the formulation of policies and program decisions.
In his speech, Lapeña noted the growing demand for workers in the analytics and artificial intelligence sector. Through the partnership, according to Lapeña, TESDA shall soon have data science, data analytics and artificial intelligence as TVET courses.
“I am confident that this collaboration with AAP shall also help to take the Information Technology Program offerings of TESDA to the next level.,” the TESDA Chief said.
“Together, we look forward to provide Filipinos with the opportunity to retool, reskill, and upskill themselves with the trainings that are relevant and appropriate for today’s technology-driven workplaces,” he added.
Meanwhile, Christie expressed confidence that with the partnership of TESDA, the Philippines can be a data-driven, globally competitive country in the field of Analytics and Artificial Intelligence.
“As we establish the National Industry Board for Analytics and AI, we shall work together on workforce development towards the attainment of a demand-driven and area-based TVET for the sector.” Christie said.
Also present during the virtual event were Deputy Directors General Aniceto “John” Bertiz III and Rosanna Urdaneta, other TESDA officials, AAP Vice President Michelle Alarcon, and members of the AAP Board of Trustees.