The Technical Education & Skills Development Authority in Negros Oriental has created competency standards for emerging job qualifications, which schools can incorporate into their curricula to address evolving market demands.
Joel Villagracia, TESDA-Negros Oriental provincial director, said Tuesday that the agency –in its mandate to develop human resources– is focusing on preparing individuals for new and in-demand skills.
“In collaboration with the Department of Information & Communications Technology, we have formulated competency standards, such as for digital marketing, and hopefully, we can register these programs to train individuals,” Villagracia said.
The ICT sector has been a key focus for TESDA, with competency standards developed for areas including digital marketing, content creation, data analytics, data encoding and management, and data processing and management.
TESDA’s Online Program offers additional courses such as Visual Graphics Design NC III, while Smart ICT courses include Android mobile app development for beginners, Smart Technopreneurship 101, and IBM Skill Build.
Diploma programs now available include Software Engineering Technology, Digital Arts Technology, and Information Technology.
“These are new and still at the CS IV level, which will be translated into community-based curricula. Schools or technical-vocational institutions can use these as a basis if they wish to adopt these programs,” Villagracia said.
He encouraged schools and TVIs to register with TESDA to offer these programs, which he expects to grow in demand as industries require emerging skills to drive economic opportunities.
Currently, two institutions —Metro Dumaguete College and Silliman University through its TVI— are working to complete requirements for TESDA registration.
“The demand for new skills is growing, and these programs will help individuals remain competitive in the market,” Villagracia said. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
