Building an Adult Education Framework in the Philippines

Our Client: The Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines is a government agency attached to the Office of the President of the Philippines. CHED oversees both public and private higher education institutions as well as degree-granting programs in all post-secondary educational institutions in the country related to accreditation, quality assurance and active partnership and support for professional advancement of the Philippines Higher Education sector.

 

“…demographic trends now show that increasingly adult population is becoming bigger. Now, we have the opportunities which have not been dealt in the past and make it right for us to go further in Adult Education.”

Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, CHED Chairman

 

The Goal: Measurable Improvements in Adult Student Learning Outcomes

CHED of the Philippines sought a method to help educators develop effective instructional strategies and plans for curriculum. Educators required contextual background, theoretical knowledge, practical experience and best practices with the goal of achieving measurable improvements in adult student learning outcomes.

The Participants

CHED of the Philippines’ leadership and representatives, including 40 educators from more than 30 higher education institutions (HEIs) – colleges and universities from every region in the Philippines we dubbed “the CAN30” – participated in the program.

The Program

We created a comprehensive adult education training program that included two separate 2-week study tours in Canada, hosted by OISE CPL in Toronto. The program also included ongoing consultancy, and OISE CPL collaboration through conference key notes (online and in-person) and facilitation services in the Philippines over the course of one year. The study tour included an orientation to the Ontario and Canadian higher education ecosystem specifically as it relates to the advancement of continuing education departments and adult education initiatives. The program was created in collaboration with the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE).

Some highlights of the program included the opportunity for participants to:

• Meet and engage with a wide variety of Ontario higher education stakeholders during multiple visits to continuing education offices at a number of Toronto area colleges in order to learn from them and see theoretical knowledge being put into practice.
• Learn strategies and methods geared towards meeting the specific needs and abilities of Philippines’ adult learners.
• Explore the principles of pedagogy, curriculum development, and assessment and evaluation techniques relating to mature students.

 

“We have to keep up on the current trends of education especially [because] the world is rapidly changing. That is why we have Adult Education because it rejects the dichotomization of education, where the acquisition of knowledge is confined only to formal school, and where the application of knowledge is expected only in the workplace.”

Ayessa Marie Velasquez, Coordinator of the Ateneo de Davao Academy of Lifelong Learning

 

Study-Tour Site Visits included:

• Seneca College: Continuing Studies
• The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University
• George Brown College: Continuing Education
• Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
• LinkedIn Learning Canada
• TVO-Independent Learning Centre

 

Additional In-Country Work Sessions

Following 2 groups of 2-week OISE CPL study tours in Toronto, CAN30 and CHED officials participated in three additional in-country work sessions between October 2018 and January 2019 in order to integrate learning and draft a framework and policies for introducing a national Adult Education road map.

Outcomes and Impact

In addition to meeting educators in the Ontario higher education continuing studies ecosystem for a firsthand view of theory in practice, participants also:

• Created action plans which were applied, evaluated, and showcased at a joint conference in the Philippines one year later.
• Developed strategies and instructional techniques for supporting diverse learning environments.
• Created a unique Adult Learning Tool Kit and design for lifelong learning and continued education for each of their respective institutions.

 

“[the participants] have all made a commitment to moving forward in uncharted waters where traditionally Adult Education has been considered a lesser priority. It’s been a privilege to share in learning with our new colleagues, and to be a part of this journey.”

Josie Di Vincenzo, OISE CPL

 

Historic Commitment to Adult Education

At a conference in February 2019, CHED Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero E De Vera III, DPA shared CHED’s commitment to move the Adult Education mandate forward. The 30 higher education institutions will now work together to help create frameworks the government can endorse. The conference closed with an historic Signing of Affirmation Commitment of Canada30 for Adult Education Re-Entry Action Plan Implementation.