The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said on Monday it will "vigorously" push for the use of dual vocational training as a tool to create more jobs and promote inclusive growth in the country.

With the help of the European Innovation, Technology and Science Center (EITSC), ECCP Vice President for External Affairs Henry Schumacher said they will be looking to reintroduce into the country Germany's dual vocational training.

"We have models and many companies have benefitted already. However, in order to address youth unemployment and create the skilled labor, the private sector needs more cooperation between itself, the government, and vocational institutions," Schumacher said.

"One of the reasons why companies have been shying away from this system is the bureaucracy and the rigidity imposed by government. It is time to revisit dual vocational training," he added.

In Germany, students aged 16 to 19 years old, outside from their school work, are trained in companies for three to five days a week for two to three years where they also earn a small stipend. This is complemented by more learning and workshops from a third party. The process ends with a certification examination.

More than 350 professions are officially recognized in Germany as training occupations with more than 60 percent of high­school graduates regularly participating in the program.

"Under this program, students will have the best opportunity to be employed by the company where they are having their dual vocational training as they would already be familiar with the company's work flow and have gained both hard and soft skills from their training," Schumacher said.

In the region, China, India, and Vietnam have already imported Germany's dual vocational training program. It has also already been introduced in countries with economic concerns like Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy.

The ECCP refocused its EITSC in 2010 to identify relevant technologies from Europe that can be used for the development of Philippine industries and enterprises while also providing trainings to ensure Filipino professionals are able to address the needs of their respective industries.

The EITSC, in the past, has implemented dual education projects with Hanns Seidel Foundation and the European Commission. It has also developed dual education for call center applicants jointly with the University of Makati and Rainmaker Philippines by integrating a curriculum that is generic and can be used by other companies.

Moreover, the ECCP is already developed and running a dual education program for the past 16 years with De La Salle University for college graduates called Applied Corporate Management that provides extended practical training in host companies resulting' in their hiring before they completed, the program.

"We want to try widening the scope' of job applications and the required' curriculum development for both the' schools and the companies," Schumacher said but also cautioning that the Philippines should "reviews the experiences of various countries and select the features that best fit its own goals, structures, culture and adapting them as necessary."

Source: Business Mirror (www.businessmirror.com.ph); News; 17 September 2013