THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has partnered with international companies to strengthen the country’s tech-voc sector.

Last February 3, TESDA Director General Suharto Mangudadatu and LabTech International Batam Head Steven McKee signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to improve the Philippine tech-voc sector’s research and development, and innovation.

“This partnership comes at a very opportune time. We are very grateful to LabTech International for this partnership as this will help us in our bid to further strengthen the technical and vocational education and training in the Philippines,” Mangudadatu said.

LabTech International is a company that has been designing and producing technology training systems for top educational institutions around the world for the past 35 years.

The partnership with LabTech International will push for research and development on TVET learning systems, new technologies, models, and approaches through institutionalizing research and development in TESDA; conducting capability-building programs on research and development; and, networking, linkages, and partnering with local and foreign research organizations.

Also, part of the agreement is for TESDA to send eight TESDA Technology Institutions trainers to LabTech International to undergo an apprenticeship program for six months. This is a “work study” program that combines learning with actual activities that are being conducted in the factory of Labtech International in Indonesia.

Mangudadatu believes that TESDA and the Philippines will benefit from interventions on innovations, research and development, and trainers’ development. This, according to him, is aligned with TESDA’s thrust to ensure the relevance and responsiveness of the country’s TVET system.

“TESDA continues to create programs that meet the current and emerging needs of industries in the nation’s economy. As it strives to enhance and bolster its international linkages, it engages various initiatives to complement continued educational excellence by partnering with reputable institutions all over the world,” the TESDA chief said.