In September 2023, the Economist Impact reported that the Philippines currently falls short of 200,000 workers with IT skills. Because of this, the country’s tech sector at large is contending with a skills gap that hinders nation building efforts—after all, the country’s major business process outsourcing sector contributes nearly USD 30 billion to the Philippines’ annual GDP, and relies heavily on IT skills.
Pioneering a high-tech solution for a digitally-proficient workforce is Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC), the premier digital-first college in the Philippines, together with the support of its employer partners.
Minding the Skills Gap
The skills gap continues to be a stumbling block in the local IT sector. Large sections of the workforce lack the skills to fill up available jobs. The situation is further complicated by declining levels of interest in IT-related courses among college entrants and low levels of programming proficiency among graduates.
Despite growth in the sector, the gap between job supply and capable talent has only widened. IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said that only 10%-15% of applicants in Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) companies end up getting accepted for the positions they apply for. With the local industry moving to create 2.5 million Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) jobs by the end of 2028, and as countries across the world adapt to Industry 4.0, a comprehensive approach to skills development is needed for Filipinos to reap the benefits of the continued development of the IT-BPM sector.
Limitations in the Traditional Educational Setup
With the pace of technological developments across industries, the traditional classroom-based academic set-up may not be able to keep up. Traditional learning models also place emphasis on memorization as opposed to skills development to prepare future jobseekers for employment – in contrast to growing numbers of employers seeking out skill-proficient applicants.
Beyond digital skills, additional data from an Economist Impact survey on skills gaps in the country revealed that analytical skills and soft skills such as collaboration and time management also emerged as top skills categories needed by today’s workforce. In order to meet the dynamic demands of the tech job market, it is imperative to foster innovation in the education sector – augmenting conventional modes of schooling to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the modern job landscape.
Overlooked Working Students
According to the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), the Philippine dropout rate is currently at 35.15% this year due to the increased cost of living. This has impacted the number of students who decided to work and not continue their education.
The decision to forego higher education to pursue work for many students can be attributed to the high cost of education. Additionally, the time needed to attend in-person classes potentially creates opportunity costs towards their possible earnings.
A traditional classroom set-up can pose challenges for an emerging class of students – working students, who face the task of balancing work and school. The working student is likely to suffer from rigid schedules and shifts, as well as the need to physically report to both school and work.
Considering this demographic is key to nation building, it is crucial to find a solution that will encourage balance and flexibility between their commitments as these students can immediately contribute to organizational and national development, having already established themselves in the workforce.
MMDC’s Groundbreaking Solution
These considerations are at the forefront for MMDC, a leader in bridging the skills gap through innovative approaches to education. The MMDC Projects, Problems, and Cases (PPC) model forgoes traditional testing methods, and instead places an emphasis on the practical application of theoretical and technical concepts. The model is designed by esteemed professionals with both academic and industry experience to ensure real-world knowledge and technical proficiency are imparted on learners.
With a nationwide reach across the country, MMDC’s synchronous and asynchronous classes are accessible to those that are located outside the Metro. Moreover, MMDC equips enrollees with lease-to-own laptops and free pocket wifi, to ensure accessibility and ease of learning. Students are then able to easily access MMDC’s Learning Management System (LMS) that is tailored to ensure a holistic approach to address real-world challenges presented to them.
Students can enroll for just 11,500 pesos per term, covering three subjects. This makes quality education both accessible and affordable. Additionally, students gain access to globally recognized academic excellence at Mapúa and a robust coaching/mentorship program.
MMDC’s diverse range of academic programs caters to the dynamic needs of today’s competitive landscape. In the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, students can tailor their education to their career goals through majors such as Marketing Management, Operations Management, and Human Resource Management. For those inclined towards technology, our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology offers specialized majors in Data Analytics, Software Development, and Network & Cybersecurity.
Strategic Collaborations with Employer Partners
MMDC’s efforts are all made possible thanks to their leading employer partners: Ayala and Yuchengco Groups, Globe, 7-Eleven, Concentrix, Sutherland, Everise, Genpact and Negros Occidental LGUs. Expect more partners soon! Through their generous support, these partners empower MMDC’s IT and business programs to seamlessly align with industry needs and create opportunities to expand access to education and career development through programs such as internships, Continuing Education scholarships, and employment opportunities.
