To strengthen the collaborative efforts toward students’ work readiness and skill-backed employability, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) partnered with the Asia Pacific College (APC) and launched on Thursday, Nov. 23, its first-ever Information Technology (IT) summit.
Dubbed CHEDx 2023, the initiative aims to bring the IT and IT-Business Process Management (BPM) sector together with the academe.
The two-day summit, held at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, was attended by graduating IT students, faculty, and administrators of higher education institutions across the country.
It encourages curriculum alignment to the new workplace, nurture industry-ready graduates for the ever-evolving digital landscape, and forge partnerships between industry and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to help decrease the skills gap.
Adapting to the new work environment
In his keynote address, CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera emphasized the need for PHEIs to adapt and satisfy the demands of the new work environment that is undergoing profound changes spurred by technological advancements.
“The massive technological advancements such as the rapid integration of applications of analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), automation, cybersecurity, and IoT challenge us to reevaluate education, workforce readiness, and societal progress,” De Vera said.
“The academe, especially our HEIs, needs to develop a deeper commitment to the call of industry and generate graduates who are attuned to technology, with innovation as a skill, and who use technology for good,” he added.
First step
CHEDx 2023, the Commission said, is the “first step” towards bringing together the academe, industry, and government for more responsive curricula, better development of graduates, and collaborative efforts to generate a vibrant and skilled workforce.
“Hopefully, this will just be the first of many summits in the years to come, as our country and the world at large continues to evolve with technology,” De Vera said.
CHEDx 2023 featured a distinguished lineup of experts and thought leaders from the IT industry and higher education sector that will share insights and experiences as guides through the intricacies of this technological revolution.
On Day 1, the summit featured talks on IT Skills Development, IT Certification Roadmap, Cybersecurity, Education and Innovation, Technology Trends in Audit and Finance, Cloud Technology, and AI.
On Day 2, it will tackle The Role of Higher Education in Fostering Trustworthy AI, Cloud: The Great Enabler, Analytics and Sustainability, Young Leaders in IT, Climate Watch and Sustainability, as well as presentations from the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Philippine Software Industry Association, Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines, Animation Council of the Philippines, and Global In-House Center Council of the Philippines.
CHED said speed mentoring sessions were also conducted by the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, to help the student participants to receive one-on-one guidance from mentors in the IT industry.
Aside from the talks, CHEDx 2023 also has an exhibit area featuring various schools such as APC, National University, Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City, and UP Los Baños. Other companies also participated in the exhibition area.
CHED noted that the summit also aims to forward recommendations for “possible policy direction” in terms of the digital transformation of Philippine higher education.