US gov’t launches P1.6-B upskilling program for PH higher education

The United States government has launched an over a billion-peso program aimed at making the Philippines’ higher education graduates globally competitive.

In a news release on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Manila said the P1.6-billion or $30-million US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) Program was launched on February 20 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The UPSKILL program aims to strengthen innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship in colleges and universities. 

The US Embassy said the initiative was jointly announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US President Joseph Biden during the Philippine leader’s visit to the White House in May last year.

Under the UPSKILL Program, US universities, Philippine government agencies engaged in human capital development, and private sector partners will cooperate to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education institutions through faculty and staff training, curriculum improvements, and increasing community outreach and technology transfer. 

Such efforts are seen to improve the qualifications and career prospects of Filipino higher education graduates to continuously meet evolving workforce needs and enhance linkages between US and Philippine universities, according to the US Embassy.

The initiative will be implemented by RTI International through a consortium of US universities, which includes Arizona State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, as well as Philippine partners such as Edukasyon.ph and the Philippine Business for Education.

“The challenges and opportunities that young people face today in the workplace make college training and education critical for their future success,” said USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for East Asia and the Pacific Sara Borodin.

“Through this new USAID program, the United States government reaffirms its commitment to working with our Filipino partners in transforming the higher education sector.”

“With this partnership with USAID, the Commission on Higher Education will provide unique opportunities for our colleges and universities to continuously innovate in response to the aspirations of the Philippines, and specifically that of our students,” said Commission on Higher Education Executive Director Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro.

“Together, we will demonstrate the compelling value of internationally recognized training, cooperative research, and lifelong learning modalities being offered by Philippine higher education.” — VBL, GMA Integrated News