THE Philippines and the German government are eyeing to bolster their collaborations to intensify technical vocational education and training programs to prepare skilled graduates for employment.

On Thursday (January 11), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Suharto Managudadatu welcomed Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock inside the TESDA Complex in Taguig City.

Mangudadatu shared that TESDA has a long-standing partnership with the government of Germany furthering the TVET sector of the Philippines particularly the implementation of the Dual Training System.

“Our two countries have always cooperated and worked closely with each other. The Philippines and Germany remain keen to explore more partnerships aimed at addressing the development of the Philippine skilled labor workforce,” Mangudadatu said.

The Foreign Minister toured the TESDA Complex specifically the Regional Training Center – National Capital Region and the TESDA Women’s Center and had a closed-door roundtable discussion with German stakeholders and Philippine government agencies.

Meanwhile, TESDA signed various Memorandum of Understanding with German multinational entities such as the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Siemens Inc., and Festo Inc.

The TESDA-GPCCI establishes a partnership to promote public-private partnerships and establish an enduring collaborative alliance for the enhancement and execution of enterprise-based training programs.

Further, TESDA has partnered with Siemens Inc. and Festo Inc., both German technology companies, to collaborate in promoting the development of quality technical education and recognize the roles of skills competition. Part of the agreement includes collaborations in TESDA’s conduct of the 2024 Philippine National Skills Competition and the Philippines’ hosting of the WorldSkills ASEAN Competition in 2025.

Siemens Inc. and Festo Inc. had previously been partners of TESDA in the conduct of skills competitions. During the 2023 PNSC, both companies provided venues and equipment for various skill areas.

It can be recalled that last year, GPCCI officials, together with German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, visited TESDA to discuss various facets of tech-voc training, including apprenticeships and the cultivation of partnerships with the private sector.