The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, is set to offer upcoming certificate programs that will support courses offered by health sciences schools.

UP Manila experts are coordinating with TESDA to create academic models for new technical vocational education and training (TVET) courses on autopsy technical support, advanced cadaver care for human anatomy courses, and technical support for simulation-based health sciences education.

The first year of training will include anatomy subjects while the second year of the course will include simulation laboratory maintenance, according to the state-run university.

Anatomy is a basic subject for health sciences courses including medicine, nursing, physical therapy, and dentistry, and medical schools with anatomy laboratories allow students to dissect and learn from cadavers.

It underscored the need for trained technicians in autopsy, embalming for academic purposes, and simulation-based education in medical colleges in the country.

It also stressed the importance of proper handling and preservation of the cadavers in these laboratories.

Moreover, simulation-based education technicians are needed to ensure the proper functioning of equipment and simulation mannequins in the clinical simulation laboratories.

UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee explained that TVET academic modules will serve as the basis for the systematic training, evaluation, and certification of students taking the new courses.

Tee said these courses are for students who have finished K-12 education and others interested in entering the highly competitive field of academic technical support here and abroad.

“We will co-create these courses with TESDA to ensure quality education that will match the need of universities offering health sciences courses,” Tee said during a meeting with officials from TESDA and the Department of Health.

In the partnership, UP Manila will define the learning outcomes for the courses while TESDA will provide the training and certification for graduates of the courses.

In July 2024, officials of UP Manila and TESDA inked the memorandum of understanding aimed at creating the abovementioned medical-focused TVET programs.

The Commission on Higher Education recently approved 22 new medical schools following Republic Act 11509 or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act which provides a Medical Scholarship and Return Service program for deserving students.