51³Ô¹ÏÍø

51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT advances technical and vocational education in TVET Forum

by Kassandra A. Buenafe, OfCom | Apr 28 2026

 

In an increasingly volatile world, the capacity to adapt remains essential. Recognizing this, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT continues to strengthen its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to equip learners with industry-relevant competencies and in-demand technical skills. On April 23, 2026, the TVET Forum 2026 was held at the University Library Theatre, bringing together leaders, educators, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss key mechanisms and emerging innovations aimed at enhancing TVET programs.

The forum aimed to promote collaboration among 51³Ô¹ÏÍø campuses offering TVET programs while strengthening partnerships with TESDA, DepEd, and industry stakeholders. It also served as a platform to share best practices and innovations in curriculum development, skills training, and industry immersion, while advancing research through collaboration among faculty, researchers, and partner institutions.

“The very root of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT,” said Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan in his message, “is TVET.” The Chancellor stressed that the University is gearing up to become an “innovation university.” “...From a research university cycling to become the leading Mindanao public innovation university…that’s how I see 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT in the coming years,” he said, emphasizing the need to focus on competence-based education and skills-based education, highlighting TVET as a crucial pathway in equipping learners with practical, industry-relevant skills that drive innovation and strengthen workforce readiness. 

The event was graced with the presence of Deputy Director General for TESD Operations, Vidal Villanueva III, who talked about how TVET has evolved and said that “there is no better place than 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT to lead the charge to redefine what technical vocation means.” 

A discussion by John Kelvin Briones, Assistant Executive Director of the Certification Office, TESDA Central Office, followed, entitled “Global Partnerships and International Opportunities for TVET Programs,” emphasizing that TVET mainly bridges education and the global labor market. Briones added that there is a need for skills to be “legible across borders” because in a highly globalized world, “mobility matters.” “Employers should be able to understand the competencies of the workers, even if those workers were trained in another country,” he said, underscoring the fact that skills learned in one country can be recognized in another. 

Participants engaged in a forum with Briones, where the conversation revolved around the necessity of industry experience by educators, clarifications on TESDA assessments and awarding of National Certificates and Certificate of Competency, and strategies to be employed to ensure successful TVET learning in different communities. 

The afternoon session began with the second resource speaker, Prof. Alias Bin Masek, a faculty member from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), with the topic “Transforming TVET for the Future.” He stressed the importance of co-developing learning programs with industry partners and shared and echoed some practices from UTHM to advance TVET in Malaysia. 

Assoc. Prof. Victor Rosales, PhD, presented an EDCOM 2 Year 3 Report on TVET, highlighting persistent issues in the Philippine system. Challenges include a fragmented labor market intelligence ecosystem hindering skills planning, inconsistent employer engagement, and weak sector governance. While scholarship programs expanded, they lack labor-market relevance, focusing on lower-level qualifications. Training often relies on community-based, low-skill offerings. The report also noted many OFWs remain in low-skilled jobs and stressed the need to strengthen TESDA's institutional capacity to meet national skills demands. A panel discussion followed.

The launching of the new organization called “Mindanao Association for Technologists and Educators Strategic Network Inc.” or MATESNI was done afterwards. With the inception of this organization, the goal to strengthen TVET in Mindanao becomes more systematized and collaborative. 

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