To stay up with global technology advancements, the electronics sector must solve a gap between industry skill need and personnel training, according to industry officials.
According to Danilo C. Lachica, President of Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI), the number of electrical and computer engineers is declining.
“We will schedule career talks to encourage students in taking engineering courses and joining the industry,”
Lachica stated during the group’s general membership meeting.
SEIPI intends to discuss with the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to discuss engineering and technical training.
“We’re in the process of gathering insights to analyze the jobs and skills mismatch through focus group discussions and key informant interviews,”
Lachica said.
SEIPI is sticking to its year-end growth objective of 7%, which is being supported by a resurgence in demand in the industrial, mobility, consumer, and medical electronics sectors.
According to Gaas Labs President John Ocampo, there aren’t enough engineering graduates in places like the United States.
“Partly it’s the perception that it’s tough major,”
he said during the same event.
He stated that science and technology education should be made more accessible to kids in order to enhance the country’s ability to participate with modern technology, such as the Internet of Things.
“I think we just have to get more engineers and make it appealing for not just engineers but to startup businesses in the Philippines,”
he said.
“We need an ecosystem in place for startups and small companies to thrive. We need incubators, local angel investors.”