- ICT Davao optimistic about meeting 150,000 ICT workforce in Region XI by 2028
TALENT and skills development are crucial in meeting the 150,000 target industry workforce by 2028, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Davao official said.
ICT Davao president Xavier Eric Manalastas said the current workforce in the region is close to 85,000 compared to around 75,000 when the non-profit organization started in 2022.
Manalastas said they partnered with the academe and private institutions to spot talent and elevate student skills to meet the growing demands of the industry. For instance, this year, the group expects another 5,000 new jobs with the entry of new locators.
“Private universities and colleges are asking us to craft, redesign, and renew their curriculum to make sure when their students graduate, they will be hirable,” Manalastas said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on March 18.
He added the curriculum has to align with industry needs to ensure the technology they learn from schools is updated. With the technology already available, he said the talent pool is at par with the demands of the employers.
The organization is also working closely with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to promote the implementation of micro-credentialing.
Micro-credential allows a student or worker to develop a portfolio of skills easily transferable across jobs. Examples include the TESDA’s ladderized program and three-year diploma courses that are stackable and focus on the in-demand skills needed in a particular industry.
He added this is important given the fast-paced technology, there is a higher percent chance of students being employed, whether a college graduate or not, as long as they are micro-credentialed.
Manalastas said that despite the existence of robotics and Artificial intelligence, there is a high demand for customer support in terms of human interaction as customers still want to interact with people, meanwhile, demand for technical support such as developers, and programmers follows.
Meanwhile, Eric V. Codog, Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc. manager, said they are open to working with ICT Davao to develop their curriculum in the future since they are planning for an expansion of the main campus.
“It’s a very good program, as it provides a higher chance of employability to students and graduates,” Codog added.
