Google Philippines announced on Wednesday that its Google Career Certificates scholarships will provide 39,000 Filipinos with the opportunity to study and complete an online certificate course.
The program is a collaboration between the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and telco giant Globe, which will be in charge of raising awareness about the program.
According to Google Philippines Marketing Chief Gabby Roxas, there is a growing need for IT-related professions and a need to equip Filipinos with new skills for an ever-changing industry.
“This is to ensure that our workforce is competitive and they can actually land jobs in the growing IT field,” Roxas said.
Officials from the DICT and DTI were also present at the opening, and they welcomed such initiatives to assist upskill the Filipino workforce.
According to DICT Asec. Jeffrey Ian Dy, “Upskilling should be prioritized in the development of the Philippines’ ICT industry sector. It is not only about infrastructure, but also about human-structure.”
“This is another milestone in our efforts to support the nation in moving toward a digital economy,” DTI Usec. Ireneo Vizmonte stated.
Filipinos aged 18 and above are eligible to register for the online certificate course, which may last 6 months to a year. IT Support, Data Analytics, UX Design, and Project Management are the four courses available. There is no requirement for prior work experience or an academic degree.
Globe will spread the word through various activities such as school caravans and collaborations with local government departments. Applicants should keep an eye on their social media profiles for an announcement from Globe.
“We see that education is a very important pillar,” said Erben Pilapil-Tuazon, Portfolio Director of Globe who hopes to reach out to its over 87 million subscribers.