MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with education agencies to help upgrade tourism education and skills training in the country.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Thursday led the virtual signing of a Memorandum on Understanding (MOU) on Convergence on Tourism Education and Training, titled “Moving Forward and Beyond.”
She was joined by Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Isidro Lapeña, and Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (TIBFI) Chairman Ma. Christina Aquino.
“Through the signing of this MOU, we can work towards the strengthening of industry-led education and training, which will standardize academic and practical instructions with the end result of producing world-class tourism professionals,” Puyat said in her opening remarks.
According to Puyat, among the MOU’s highlights is the introduction of technical and vocational tourism skills training in public schools for junior and high school students. She said this aims to hone the students to the demands of the tourism industry.
The MOU will also help enhance the collaboration among concerned government agencies and the private sector in developing and promoting education tourism as one of the tourism product offerings of the country under the National Tourism Development Plan 2016 to 2022.
Puyat further noted that the MOU will support the implementation of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals.
She said DOT will implement coordinated programs to enhance manpower skills and strengthen the link between academe and industry.
“With this MOU, you can count on the DOT to work tirelessly with other government agencies concerned and industry stakeholders in the development of agreed tourism industry training regulations,” Puyat added. Miggy Dumlao, trainee
KGA
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