Technical-Vocational Education and Training for Business Process Management: Challenges and Potential

Abstract

The Information Technology - Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector is one of the Philippines' strongest drivers of economic growth and employment and a potential driver of shared prosperity for the country. One potential enabler for IT-BPM is technical-vocational education and training (TVET) program, domestically administered by TESDA and other Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs). TVET can improve workers' productivity and prepare them for the IT-BPM sector by teaching them relevant skills and retooling them where needed. However, the authors argue that there are challenges that limit the role of TVET in preparing workers for potential employment in the IT-BPM sector. Training content is not as responsive to industry demand as it could be because of delays in introducing or revising training regulations. There is also limited data on the quality or effectiveness of training, and on where graduates end up, making it difficult to assess the quality and effectiveness of training. Finally, there are still gaps in English proficiency, problem-solving, and higher-level skills – competencies that are not meant to be addressed by TVET training. These competency gaps limit access to opportunities available in the IT-BPM sector for many Filipinos. The lack of skills threatens lower-skill positions that could be wiped out because of automation. The government, IT-BPM firms and TVIs can address these challenges by focusing on better coordination and communication, as well as improved monitoring and quality assurance, and making TVET programs more flexible to technological change. In the long term, it is imperative that the government prioritize teaching English and problem-solving effectively. With better coordination and a long-term commitment to teaching soft skills and competencies, TVET can become a more effective tool for achieving shared prosperity.