In September 2024, Dr. Terry O’Hanlon-Rose, Executive Principal of APEG, was invited to speak at Don Bosco Technical College, one of the premier institutions in the Philippines for technical and vocational education. The focus of the session was on the alignment between the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF), as well as their significance in advancing academic mobility. Dr. O’Hanlon-Rose was joined by Fr. Jun Onocencio, the Vice President of the Don Bosco Group of Schools, Dean Jennifer Silao of Don Bosco Technical College, and other influential figures from the institution. Together, they explored the strategic importance of competency-based education, qualification comparability, and how such frameworks can open doors for international recognition.
The meeting offered an important platform for all involved to discuss the mutual benefits of aligning the two countries’ educational frameworks. These discussions were key to ensuring that students from both Australia and the Philippines are better prepared for global employment and educational opportunities, ensuring that qualifications are widely recognised internationally.
Building Bridges Between the AQF and the PQF
One of the central points of the session was the alignment between the AQF and the PQF. Both frameworks serve as guides for the development of quality education in their respective countries, ensuring consistency in the levels of education and training offered. However, as education continues to globalise, there is an increasing demand to make these frameworks more interoperable to encourage academic mobility.
The AQF, which is a comprehensive national policy for regulated qualifications in Australia, aligns qualifications from a wide range of industries, from vocational education and training (VET) to higher education. Similarly, the PQF is a national policy that promotes quality education and training across the Philippines. While both frameworks share the objective of providing high-quality, standardised qualifications, challenges exist regarding how these qualifications are perceived across borders.
Dr. O’Hanlon-Rose emphasised how bridging these two frameworks could open doors for more Filipinos to access education and employment opportunities in Australia, and vice versa. This alignment also helps students and professionals transfer their qualifications and seamlessly integrate into global workplaces. It ensures a smooth transition for those who wish to pursue further studies or seek international work experience.
Competency-Based Education: The Key to Workforce Development
Another critical area of focus during the session was competency-based education (CBE), a model that is increasingly gaining traction worldwide. Dr. O’Hanlon-Rose, alongside the Don Bosco representatives, discussed the growing importance of ensuring that students graduate with the right set of competencies that match industry standards.
CBE focuses on equipping students with specific skills and competencies that are essential for a particular job, trade, or profession. This approach is highly practical, as it allows students to gain real-world experience while still in the classroom. For institutions like Don Bosco, which has a longstanding tradition of providing vocational and technical education, CBE is seen as a critical method for developing employable, skilled workers.
Dr. O’Hanlon-Rose shared his insights on how Australia’s AQF heavily incorporates competency-based frameworks into its qualifications, which has helped align academic learning with industry needs. In particular, he discussed how such a model enables graduates to be job-ready, making them highly attractive to potential employers. This model can be especially beneficial for the Philippines, where many students pursue vocational courses that lead to careers in various sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and IT.
Fr. Onocencio and Dean Silao, representing Don Bosco, also contributed to the conversation by sharing how their institution has successfully implemented CBE programs and the positive outcomes they have observed. They highlighted how CBE provides flexibility for students to progress at their own pace, depending on their mastery of the skills required for each course. This personalised learning approach ensures that graduates meet specific skill requirements that are crucial in a highly competitive job market.
Qualification Comparability: Achieving Global Recognition
In today’s globalised world, students, workers, and professionals need qualifications that are recognised across national borders. One of the major challenges facing international education systems is the lack of comparability between qualifications, making it difficult for individuals to pursue further education or secure jobs abroad.
Dr. O’Hanlon-Rose discussed how aligning the AQF with the PQF could help solve this issue by establishing a common framework that recognises the same competencies, ensuring that graduates from both countries can easily transition into global job markets. The alignment would also benefit employers by allowing them to better assess the qualifications of candidates coming from different educational backgrounds.
In particular, Dr. O’Hanlon-Rose stressed that an international qualification system would facilitate the movement of skilled workers between countries, a topic that resonated with the attendees. With so many Filipinos working abroad, particularly in countries like Australia, the alignment between the AQF and PQF could prove instrumental in supporting the professional mobility of Filipino workers.
Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education
Another important takeaway from the meeting was the role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in bridging the skills gap between education and employment. As both Australia and the Philippines face workforce challenges, there is an increasing need to prioritise TVET programs that not only address the skill shortages but also provide students with a solid foundation in their chosen industries.
Dr. O’Hanlon-Rose remarked that one of the significant benefits of aligning the AQF with the PQF would be the increased focus on TVET qualifications, which have a direct impact on job readiness. Through more seamless recognition of qualifications, students could pursue technical courses in the Philippines and then further their education or find work in Australia or other parts of the world.
Don Bosco, known for its emphasis on vocational training, will be able to leverage the alignment of these frameworks to enhance its educational offerings. The alignment also provides the opportunity for greater collaboration between Australian and Philippine institutions, expanding educational pathways for students and opening new avenues for international cooperation.
Moving Forward: A Partnership for Global Mobility
The meeting concluded with an overwhelming sense of optimism regarding the potential for stronger collaboration between Australia and the Philippines in technical and vocational education. Both the AQF and the PQF were recognised as crucial tools in shaping the future workforce, and the discussions held at Don Bosco were seen as the first step toward fostering deeper connections between the two countries’ educational systems.
Dr. O’Hanlon-Rose, Fr. Onocencio, Dean Silao, and the Don Bosco team all expressed their commitment to continuing the dialogue and pursuing future collaborations. Moving forward, they plan to work together to further align their systems, ensuring that students in both countries receive the most comprehensive and globally recognised education possible. The outcome of this meeting could be the start of a transformative collaboration that enhances the quality of education, boosts employment prospects, and strengthens the ties between the Philippines and Australia in the field of education and workforce development.
By focusing on competency-based education, ensuring qualification comparability, and prioritising technical and vocational education, this partnership could play a key role in empowering students, professionals, and workers from both nations to succeed on the global stage. The session at Don Bosco was just one example of how strategic collaborations can shape the future of education and training for the better.