Last month, Christiani took part in a programme for the 2023 German Trade Mission to the Philippines in the education and training sector. Our trip to the Philippines was significant as it gave us the opportunity to explore the country’s education sector first-hand. Our focus was on vocational education and training and the numerous stakeholders active in this field.

We began our trip with visits to various relevant entities, including relevant government departments, chambers of commerce, universities, colleges, polytechnics and vocational schools. These discussions and visits allowed us to gain a comprehensive insight into the educational landscape of the Philippines. We quickly realised that the Philippines is one of the fastest growing countries in Southeast Asia, which underlines the importance of skills development locally. The government is making continuous efforts to invest in this area and improve the quality of education.

Particularly impressive was the fact that the Philippines is known for its “overseas employment”. Filipinos who have worked abroad and return home bring with them valuable international experience that can make a significant contribution to the advancement of local technical education standards.

One notable aspect of Philippine education is the integration of the German “dual system”. However, this is not done as a mere copy, but by taking the Philippine specialities into account. Schools are primarily responsible for basic vocational training. Nevertheless, schools encourage almost all pupils and students to look for industry partners. These partnerships are crucial as industry supports schools financially, provides students with pocket money and meals, and actively participates in curriculum development and daily teaching activities. After completing their education, the students are guaranteed internships and jobs in the industry.

This intensive trip not only enabled us to better understand the education sector in the Philippines, but also to gain valuable insights into the needs of local schools. This now enables us to better tailor our programmes to the requirements of our partners and plan targeted measures to support educational development in the Philippines. Our visit to the Philippines was therefore of great importance and will have a positive influence on our future cooperation.

Great visits of Training Institutes, talks about the dual training system with TESDA: Technical Education and Skills Developement Authority, reception at the German Embassy Manila, visits of the De La Salle University in Manila and many more. Thank you all for your incredible hospitality! We look forward to connecting with new partners and are happy for the informative exchange we had! Special thanks to Orissa International and AHP International for the outstanding organization and to Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung(BIBB) for joining us on this mission.