“Our Mission: Help people progress in the new business landscape, to progress in life, through learning.”
MANILA, July 19 2019 – Pearson signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the LGIS Qualifications Assessment Authority, finding yet another partner in helping to boost Filipino employment and career acceleration.
Signed at the Makati Shangri-La during Pearson’s first-ever learning symposium, the event was witnessed by representatives of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the University of Luzon and other educational institutions from across the country.
As part of its Learning Symposium Series, Pearson focused on how they bridge the skills gap between educator and employer, and the skills shortages of the 21st Century workplace that emerged due to rapid technological advancements and globalization. These shortages range from skills like English proficiency, financial and quantitative literacy, to digital marketing and data science, among others.
What is the Skills Gap?
The speed of technological innovations in the globalized business landscape tend to outpace the curriculums of traditional educational institutions, rendering the value of diplomas only for generalized skills as opposed to the specific skills demanded by the new workplace. Hence, a gap emerges between what the graduate learned at school, and the focused skills currently needed.
As Stuart Connor, Pearson Asia Director of Qualifications and Assessments remarked on stage: “The pace of change is increasing so fast. But it’s not changing as fast in the educational space. CEOs tell me they find it increasingly hard to find focused skills, digital literacy, numeracy, core competencies, adaptability, creativity, communicative English proficiencies, critical thinking.”
How Pearson helps bridge the Skills Gap
Known as the world’s learning company with employability at its heart, Pearson offers a wide range of qualifications and assessment courses made in direct collaboration with employers.
One of these is Pearson’s LCCI (London Chamber of Commerce and Industry) qualification courses and assessments, which are constantly updated and focused on specific skills that produce globally-qualified graduates, making them ready to hit the ground running from their first day of work.
Also covered at the event was how Pearson bridges the skills gap conveniently: by bringing the bridge to the learners. Pearson LCCI qualifications are easily accessible online, even mobile, with flexibility on the duration and choice of courses — whether as part of a school’s curriculum for a student, or for an employee at work. And all with fast-accurate results.
Using A.I. run English Proficiency tests as an example, Shama Siddiqui, Senior Trainer, TDS Global stated: “Wave form and spectral analysis technologies produces unbiased, accurate assessments in 3-5 minutes, using just a mobile phone.”
What Pearson can do for the Filipino
Pearson LCCI graduates are trained to go beyond memorization. Instead, they are taught to be adaptive and highly communicative critical thinkers with updated focused skill sets for the needs of the current and future markets – making them extremely hirable globally.
As Caroline Medioda, Programme Leader of Southville International School stated at the symposium: “After graduation, 98% of our graduates either found work or started their own businesses.”
Tony Chapman, Industry Relations and Partnerships Manager at Pearson U.K also cited that “our mission is to help people make progress in their lives through learning. Teaching partners and employers tell us what they need, so we can provide them with candidates who make an impact in the workplace.”
And as for episodic careers, he also had this to say: “You no longer have to stick to one job for the rest of your life. Study for 3 months and you’re ready to take on a new challenge. A new job that pays you more because you are specifically trained to do that job better.”
With Pearson LCCI and its partners, every Filipino and Filipina can build their own bridges to a 21st Century quality of life.
For more information on the courses offered by Pearson LCCI, please visit https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/lcci.html
About Pearson
Pearson is the world’s learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Our mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. For more, visit www.pearson.com/asia
About Pearson LCCI
Pearson LCCI qualifications are work-related qualifications, created to give professional learners the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the workplace. Offering a broad range of subject areas across English language, financial and quantitative, marketing and customer service as well as business administration and IT. LCCI qualifications equip learners with work ready skills to prosper in their careers. LCCI qualifications are suitable for a wide range of learners aged 14 and over, and are available as single subjects, diplomas and group certificates.
