Key leaders and decision-makers from across the country recently gathered online for the first Government-Academe-Industry Network, Inc. (GAIN) Webinar. The virtual convention was aimed at addressing and assessing the impact of the pandemic on the nation’s global competitiveness and human development.
With the theme ‘Impact of Covid-19: What can we do together to adapt?’, this GAIN Webinar not only shared insights but also spurred discussions and recommendations on how the government, the academe, and industries can collaborate and partner to adapt and conquer the challenges of the times.
Academe
On the side of the academe, Holy Angel University President Dr. Luis Maria Calingo shared three things that the sector must prepare for—possibility of social distancing for 2020-2022, on-and-off Covid-19 outbreaks and quarantine periods, and the likelihood of an exclusively online school year 2020-2021.
We need to dedicate adequate resources to design a completely different kind of course, smaller modular pieces, different types of assessments, technology to monitor how students are picking up, asynchronous delivery of material, flip classrooms, online projection of materials, online interactions and so on,” Dr. Calingo explained.
Government
On the government’s behalf, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Director for ICT Industry Development Bureau Emmy Lou Versoza-Delfin enumerated the agency’s projects and initiatives in helping combat the pandemic and navigate through the new normal—the National Broadband program, free Wi-Fi access in public places and state universities and colleges, Tech4ED Centers, Digital Teachers and Leaders, ICT Academy, and Skills Window.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Executive Director Atty. Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro said they will provide funding assistance on both wired and non-wired flexible learning options, specifically in the areas of curriculum design, learning delivery, assessment of learning outcomes, technology integration, and the development of appropriate educational resources and training of admin and other personnel.
Industry
On the other hand, according to IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) President and CEO Ray Untal, the pandemic presented learnings as it became a testament to their sector’s resilience. With work-from-home (WFH) being a viable arrangement, the industry highlighted challenges in infrastructure to extend WFH capabilities and securing approvals from clients due to concerns over information security.
The GAIN Webinar was powered by TeamAsia, an integrated marketing experience agency.