How training, skills and knowledge is helping power the Philippines' economic success
An economic transformation is happening in the Philippines, which makes it “one of the most dynamic economies in the East Asia and Pacific region” according to the World Bank.
And this dynamism is affecting the country’s approach to developing knowledge and skills among its workforce – notably in areas including project and service management.
Global industries – Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Business Process Management – have become cornerstones of growth in the Philippines, promoted by the government, and employing more than 1.5m people.
According to a report by McKinsey & Company, “talent and technology are clear areas where growth” in the BPO “sector can be unlocked”. But this, the report adds, “necessitates building a proper talent hub to help bridge employee gaps and better match local talent to employers’ needs”.
Skills demands and the university response
The professional skills demanded by these sectors has led to the creation of technical and vocational education and training programmes such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s digital skills programmes and The Department of Education’s ICT initiatives.
Dr Gerard Ngo – Chief Technology Officer/International Partnership at AMA University, a PeopleCert Accredited Academic Partner – said: “The current job market strongly demands advanced technical competencies. This is driving businesses to prioritize upskilling and reskilling their workforce.
Organizations recognize that maintaining a competitive edge requires employees to stay current with the latest tools, systems and frameworks. As a result, there is a growing demand for structured learning pathways and industry certifications that ensure teams remain agile, capable and future-ready.”
Dr Ngo added that AMA University focuses on equipping students with skills in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud computing, network administration, software development, and data analytics – areas that not only align with global technological trends but also reflect the specific needs of industries like BPO, fintech, healthcare IT and more.
John Knott, Director of Global Academic Partnerships at PeopleCert, said: “The Philippines already has a strong talent base. Enhancing workforce capabilities through recognized skills and certifications – complemented by improvements in English language proficiency, to meet the needs of BPO organizations – strengthens its global position as skilled professionals attract investment, enable higher-value work and raise overall service quality.
“The shift – from volume-based outsourcing to value-added services – will help position the Philippines not just as a provider but as a strategic partner in global business.”
Micro-credentials and employability
PeopleCert is aligning new courses to the country’s evolving skills and competence requirements. This involves a focus on practical, high-impact courses that reflect both employer expectations and national workforce strategies.
Varun Sud, PeopleCert’s Academic Partnerships Manager – APAC, added: “A significant development supporting our expansion in the Philippines’ academic sector is the recent Memorandum issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), emphasizing the importance of micro-credentials. This aligns perfectly with PeopleCert’s offerings and strengthens the case for integrating our certifications into degree programmes.”
He continued: “PeopleCert qualifications like PRINCE2 Project Management and ITIL bring globally-recognized standards into the classroom; by bridging the gap between academic theory and workplace practice, students gain structured approaches to managing projects, solving problems and delivering outcomes – skills directly applicable to fields like BPO, IT and logistics.
“The certifications also add credibility to graduates’ CVs, signalling to employers that candidates are job-ready from day one.”
At AMA University, Dr Ngo said that PeopleCert certifications “such as ITIL 4 Foundation complement our programmes by embedding internationally-recognized frameworks that enhance our students’ technical and operational competencies.”
With the certifications currently integrated into the university’s Business Administration and Engineering programmes, Dr Ngo added: “By aligning academic learning with industry standards, we help students gain practical, work-ready skills that improve their job prospects and performance in roles such as IT operations, service management and systems administration.”
Along with AMA University, the PeopleCert team has found the response from the country’s academic institutions to be “overwhelming”.
“Many universities are actively conducting course mapping exercises to integrate PeopleCert certifications into their curricula, ensuring students graduate with highly sought-after credentials. AMA University has now successfully integrated ITIL and DevOps and is planning to include PRINCE2 Project Management,” Varun added.
Elevating the Philippines as a global business destination
The combination of Filipino government policies, educational interest and PeopleCert’s portfolio of best practices bodes well for meeting the demands of a growing economy.
John Knott said: “Organizations are investing in upskilling their teams and our short, focused training makes this practical and cost-effective. We’re seeing strong interest in micro-credentials that boost productivity and prepare teams for more complex work, especially in areas like service delivery, agile practices and risk management.”
And Dr Ngo at AMA University observes how “improved technical competencies and globally-recognized certifications significantly strengthen the Philippines’ position as a premier destination for business and innovation”.
“By producing a workforce that is both highly skilled and adaptable, institutions like AMA contribute to national competitiveness…ultimately elevating the country’s business environment and global standing,” he said.