MMSU probiotics microcredential program eyed for TESDA ladderized education

A microcredential program developed by Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) has been identified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for possible adoption into its ladderized education programs, following its presentation at a national education meeting in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Dr. Rhian Jaymar Ramil presented the university's Industry-Based Microcredential Pathways Toward Graduate Programs in Probiotics and Functional Foods for Sustainable Health and Nutrition (iPath-Pro) during the fourth Joint Education Trifocal Management Committee (JETMC) meeting held from October 8 to 10.

The meeting brought together officials from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), TESDA and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to discuss coordination among the country's basic, higher and technical-vocational education sectors.

Ramil, who serves as project staff of iPath-Pro, program leader of the IFP-Probiotics Research Program and chief of MMSU's Functional Foods and Nutraceutical Research Center, presented the initiative as a model for connecting industry-based competencies with advanced graduate education.

TESDA's interest in the program highlights its potential to support a ladderized education system, allowing learners to build competencies through successive qualifications while pursuing further academic opportunities.

The iPath-Pro program offers three specialization areas: Applied Biology; Pharmaceutical Technology; and Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Health. Each specialization consists of three stackable microcredential courses designed to provide flexible learning options and pathways toward advanced graduate studies.

The initiative seeks to align research-based learning with industry requirements, enabling learners to acquire relevant skills and progressively pursue higher qualifications.

During the meeting, Ramil also joined technical discussions on education-to-employment pathways and the Philippine Credit Transfer System, which aims to facilitate the recognition and transfer of academic credits across institutions and qualification levels, particularly between CHED and TESDA.

The discussions were anchored on the One Education Agenda, which seeks to strengthen coordination among the three education agencies and establish smoother transitions between learning, skills development and employment.

MMSU's program builds on the vision of CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis, who previously served as the university's president and led the IFP-Probiotics Research Program.

Other officials at the meeting included DepEd Assistant Secretary Delfin Stephen Villafuerte of the Education and Workforce Development Group and Teacher Education Council Executive Director Jennie Jocson.

The possible adoption of iPath-Pro into TESDA's ladderized education programs could expand opportunities to translate university research into industry-relevant training and advanced academic qualifications.