BOI TO BOOST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRY-ACADEME COLLABORATION WITH AIM! LAUNCH

PASIG CITY—The Board of Investments (BOI) successfully launched the Academe-Industry Matching (AIM!) Program, bringing together leaders and stakeholders from the academe, government, private sector, and development partners in a landmark initiative to address workforce development challenges. The event, held on 25 November 2024, gathered over 300 participants and underscored the urgent need for closer collaboration to bridge the gap between educational institutions and the evolving demands of industries in the Philippines.

The AIM! Program serves as BOI’s flagship initiative aimed at implementing a collaboration platform to create a job-ready workforce equipped to thrive in emerging local industries. With the country producing an average of 800,000 college graduates annually, the program seeks to enhance the alignment of academic curricula and technical training programs with the specific needs of high-value sectors such as aerospace, IT, semiconductors, automotive including electric vehicles, renewable energy, chemicals and telecommunications.

Usec. Fatima Panontongan of the Department of Education, in her opening remarks, highlighted the crucial role of collaboration in shaping the workforce of tomorrow. Drawing from data, she pointed out the challenges faced by senior high school graduates.

“According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), only 20% of our senior high school graduates have joined the workforce, and an equally small percentage of companies are open to hiring them. These numbers reveal an important truth: hindi sapat ang puwede na, kailangang handang-handa ang kabataang Pilipino. This is where the AIM! Program by BOI comes in. It represents a concrete step to address skills mismatches and create clear pathways to employment,” she stressed.

Adding a legislative perspective, Cong. Ron Salo of the Kabayan Partylist stressed the program’s pivotal role in addressing labor market challenges. “This is a purposive and strategic step in developing our Filipino talents.

Through programs like AIM!, we are connecting key sectors, addressing workforce gaps, and championing human capital,” he stated during his keynote address.

As the principal author of the Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) Act or RA 11448, he also emphasized that TNHE will make globally recognized programs accessible to Filipinos without requiring them to leave the Philippines. Consequently, TNHE is regarded as a vital strategy for addressing brain drain and resolving the current talent supply challenges in the country.

The event also featured a detailed presentation of the AIM! Program by BOI Executive Director Ma. Corazon Dichosa, who outlined its goals and strategies. She described the program as a multi-sectoral and multi-industry partnership platform focused on bridging the gap between education and industry needs to ensure a future-ready workforce.

Participants took part in an engaging plenary session featuring insights from key industry leaders and development partners. Discussions highlighted collaborative solutions to the skills gap and strategies to prepare the workforce for emerging industries. Complementing these discussions was the Interactive Zone, where exhibitors from various industries showcased their cutting-edge technologies enticing attendees from the academic and technical-vocational institutions.

The Interactive Zone proved to be a major highlight, offering hands-on activities and demonstrations from BOI’s priority industries, including animation, game development, software development, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive and electronics. Students, learners, and educators immersed themselves in industry technologies while engaging directly with industry exhibitors. These interactions provided valuable career awareness and opportunities for students and learners to envision their future paths in high-value industries.

In her closing remarks, CHED-OPSD Director Aline Magalong underscored the long-term impact of initiatives like AIM! on the nation’s human capital. “Beyond developing competencies, the goal of education is to empower individuals to take charge of their growth and sense of purpose. We aim to develop our graduates as lifelong learners—agile and creative in the face of uncertainty, and capable of thriving and succeeding in the future,” she said.

The AIM! Program is a testament to the BOI’s commitment to strengthening the country’s human capital and addressing labor market challenges. By fostering deeper collaboration between educational institutions and industries, the program aims to solidify the Philippines’ position as a regional leader in innovation and sustainability.