To: The Acting Dean Thru: May Jean Narne Subject: 3 Proposed Policy Research Topics for POEC

3043 Date: 13 December 2013 Proposed Topic: Working Title: Analysis in the Standard of students being produce by the TVET system of TESDA in the field of Information Technology. Background: VET is not only important in providing employment opportunities to individuals but also helps in enhancing the productivity of firms: Vocational education and training are indispensable instruments For improving labor mobility, adaptability and productivity, thus contributing to enhancing Firms competitiveness and redressing labor market imbalances Skill Shortages. Firms were found out to experience recruitment difficulties for managers and professionals than recruiting clerical, sales, services and production personnel. The study results showed that looking for non-technical workers is simpler as they can be easily trained even if they are skills deficient upon entry. Recruitment for technical positions is another case as there are minimum levels of competencies required of the workers at the time of job entry. Hence firms tend to exercise greater selectivity. The MNCs (Multinational Corporations) reported that they find it difficult to fill up technical positions especially in the field of IT. Dearth in the supply of communication and computer technicians, electronic and maintenance engineers/technicians and network technicians are common among surveyed MNCs as it takes them 4 to 7 weeks to fill up this technical positions. Supply of IT personnel is also wanting as it takes MNCs 12 to 15 weeks before finding out qualified applicants for the positions of project managers, program designers, system consultants and system analysts. This position generally requires experience, leadership and communication skills aside from technical proficiency. This illustrates the "brain drain" the country is experiencing as the more capable and talented ones are being lured by the glitter of overseas employment. This is well exemplified in the case of IT manpower where the huge turnout of graduates has failed to stem the growing shortage of qualified IT personnel.

To reverse declining enrollments, career and technical education faces a twofold challenge: to restructure its programs and to rebuild its image. Traditional vocational programs provided students with job-specific skills that many parents viewed as too narrow for their children. The trend is for career and technical education programs to rethink their mission by asking how they can prepare students with high-level academic skills and the broad-based transferable skills and technical skills required for participation in the "new economy," where adaptability is key. Programs adopt this dual approach in an effort to make career and technical education a realistic option for large numbers of students to achieve academic success, which will translate into employment for them. This preparation for the world of work is anchored in strong academic skills, which students learn how to apply to real-world situations. These academic skills include the competencies needed in the contemporary workplace as well as the knowledge and skills valued by academic education and measured by state examinations. Statement of the Problem: Efficiency of students produced by TESDA in Information Technology field.

Objectives: To know the mismatches between the qualifications of the IT personnels or professionals needed by the labor market and the quality of the IT students being produce by TESDA. To analyze what are the reforms needed in the offered course especially in the field of IT of TESDA.

References: Abrokwa, C. K. (1995). Vocational education in the third world: Revisiting the debate. The Vocational Aspect of Education, 47(2), 129-40. Asian Development Bank. (2004). Improving technical education and vocational training: Strategies for Asia. Manila, Philippines: Asian Development Bank. Agrawal, T. (2012). Vocational education and training in India: Challenges, status and labor market outcomes. Journal of Vocational Education &Training, 64(4), 453-474. Maclean, R., & Lai A. (2011). The future of technical and vocational education and training: Global challenges and possibilities. International Journal of Training Research, 9(1-2), 2-15 (December 12,2013). Skills Shortages and Training Needs of MNCs in the Philippines (Issue No. 20). Retrieved from http://www.tesda.gov.ph/program.aspx?page_id=65 Tzannatos, Z., & Johnes, G. (1997). Training and skills development in the East Asian newly industrialized countries: A comparison and lessons for developing countries. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 49(3), 431-53.

Demand for Cloud IT careers on the rise, says expert.INQUIRER.net.7:09 pm ( Saturday, April 6th, 2013.)Retrieved from http://technology.inquirer.net/24461/demand-for-cloudit-careers-on-the-rise-says-expert Minette Dotollo. (11:33 pm | Sunday, July 10th, 2011)Retaining IT professionals, Philippine Daily Inquirer.Retrived from http://business.inquirer.net/6600/retaining-itprofessionals Madhu Singh (ed.), 2005 Meeting Basic Learning Needs in the Informal Sector: Integrating Education and Training for Decent Work, Empowerment and Citizenship