ZAMBOANGA CITY—Another of Mindanao’s leading universities is engaged in implementing an innovative program that will help increase the employability of its graduates by improving their English language proficiency skills.
Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City is among the six schools in Mindanao that are partnering with USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program in implementing its Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Project, which provides computer-based learning designed to benefit a significant number of students across Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas.
GEM’s JEEP Project, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, is aimed at equipping tertiary students with essential English language skills required for careers in key sectors such as business process outsourcing (BPO), tourism, nursing, allied health services and maritime services.
“Facility in English is a great advantage, particularly now that we have to compete in the international job market,” said Dr. Grace Rebollos, president of WMSU. “We equip our graduates with technical skills, but we’re also enabling them to navigate unfamiliar environments with the help of a universal language.”
The other JEEP partner schools include Mindanao State University-Marawi, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan, Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay Bukidnon, and Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology in Zamboanga City.
At the JEEP launch, Joji Ilagan-Bian, president of the Philippine Call Center Alliance and owner of a Davao-based call center, pointed out that the JEEP project will have a great impact on Mindanao’s BPO sector.
“BPO companies are encouraged by how the community is helping to develop the industry by looking for ways to improve the manpower pool,” Bian said.
JEEP is comprised of a two-year group of courses offered to qualifying third and fourth year college students. The first course, called “JEEP-Start,” is a one-year program that includes computer-assisted instruction supported by classroom extension, and is designed to develop advanced General English language skills.
After successfully completing the first course, students enroll in “JEEP-Accelerate”, which consists of mixed-mode instruction—a classroom-based speech lab and special software—and focuses on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) or English for Employment.
Under the GEM-WMSU partnership, a dedicated JEEP Language Laboratory was established. The GEM Program provided WMSU with 41 computers and software licenses, while the school, as its counterpart, purchased 30 computers and will shoulder the cost of the DynEd courseware to be utilized exclusively for the program.
The JEEP project launch in Zamboanga coincided with the unveiling of Globe Telecomm’s commercial Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-Max) system in the city.
The commercial roll-out of Wi-Max is part of Globe’s move to upgrade its services to commercial and non-commercial subscribers in the Zamboanga peninsula.
The Wi-Max installation is anticipated to attract additional outsourcing locators and help project the city as a BPO investment destination.
“The BPO industry here in Mindanao is doing great, and we are in fact growing,” Bian said.
Zamboanga City hosts several firms engaged in medical transcription, website and software development, animation, encoding and data processing.
It is home to several of the region’s top universities, including WMSU and Ateneo de Zamboanga, as well as technical and vocational colleges offering training in call center skills. Altogether, these academic institutions turn out 19,000 new graduates a year. GEM
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