INDUSTRY FORUM. Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan holds industry forum for partners of the Andrew L Gotianun Sr Center for Integrated Technologies (ALGCIT). Supplied photo.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — To strengthen its partnerships with various industries in the region, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan conducted an industry forum earlier this month where opportunities and challenges on technical-vocational education were discussed.
The forum drew together representatives from various industries, from food manufacturing to automobile and power distribution to shipping, to gather their sentiments on how to improve tech-voc education and to foster collaborations with the newest senior high school of Xavier Ateneo — the Andrew L Gotianun Sr Center for Integrated Technologies (ALGCIT).
Among the topics discussed were the industry needs, internship assignments, students’ safety in the workplace, interpersonal communication, labor policies and standards, and opportunities for an enrollment-to-employment program.
Company representatives were also able to share their best practices and strategic plans to help improve the curriculum of ALGCIT and project the demands of industries locally and globally. A representative from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), university administrators, faculty, and staff were also present in the said forum.
“We are grateful to our partners who are here today, for sharing with us your insights, challenges, and opportunities for collaborations,” said ALGCIT director Engr Eliseo Linog.
“We cannot do it on our own. We cannot do it without the industries.”
TECH-VOC EDUCATION. ALGCIT director Engr Eliseo Linog expresses his gratitude on behalf of Xavier Ateneo to the company representatives who attended the industry forum and for sharing their insights and aspirations for tech-voc education in this part of the country. Supplied photo.
An endowment from the Gotianun Foundation, ALGCIT provides full academic and residential scholarships to “competent yet financially-disadvantaged youth.” It aims to champion technical and vocational education, provide profitable employment options or entrepreneurial opportunities for its graduates, and contribute to the country's social and economic growth.
ALGCIT is a highly specialized three-year tech-voc senior high school where the first two years are allotted for academics and coursework, while the third year is primarily for industry internship.
In the face of globalization and the K-12 reform in our country’s educational system, ALGCIT puts its resources into honing the technical skills of the students in four globally in-demand specializations: (1) Automotive Servicing, (2) Computer and Electronics Technology, (3) Energy and Power System, and (4) Mechanical Design and Fabrication.
Xavier Ateneo, through ALGCIT, seeks to respond to the need for a comprehensive program to help tech-voc students acquire skills, knowledge, and character formation that is grounded on Jesuit education, necessary to develop their professional careers.
“There is a gap between the demand and supply of skilled workers (tech-voc graduates) in the labor market, there is a gap between industries and schools,” Linog said.
In closing, he urged the industry partners, “We need to share our experiences and form partnerships to address the concerns in tech-voc and close the gap.”∎