Instructure report reveals PH TechVoc schools renews focus on employability

MANILA— A Hanover Research commissioned by the Instructure Holdings, Inc. (Instructure) (NYSE: INST) on the “State of Vocational Education in the Philippines” showed that Philippine vocational institutions renew focus on employability by embracing education technology (edtech) solutions and are cautious yet increasingly engaged approach to generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Instructure, the leading learning technology ecosystem and maker of Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) commissioned Hanover Research to carry out the survey in September 2023 encompassing 115 techvoc institutions, highlighting the evolving focus of vocational education institutions in the country on enhancing student employability.

The survey results indicated a significant shift towards integrating edtech solutions such as an LMS to broaden students' career opportunities post-graduation.

According to the report, 89 percent of vocational education institutions place great importance on the employment rates of recent graduates, and 81 percent value their students' practical application of knowledge and skills.

When assessing their programs, 100 percent believe they effectively prepare students for the workplace. However, more than half of the institutions, 53 percent admit that they struggle with recent graduate employment rates.

 

In response to the increasingly competitive job market, vocational education institutions are turning to technology as a key tool to positively influence instructors, administrators, and students.   A significant 97 percent of these institutions believe that the use of technology has played a crucial role in enhancing student success.

 Among the technologies adopted, LMSs emerged as the most commonly used technology, with 77 percent of institutions utilizing them. Digital assessment solutions, 62 percent and video/audio conferencing, 59 percent were also widely adopted.

Further emphasizing the value of technology in education, 88 percent of institutions report that their students place great importance on integrating technological tools like LMS, recognizing their role in enriching the learning experience.

“The widespread adoption of LMS and other digital learning tools speaks to a deeper understanding that integrating technology is crucial for preparing vocational students for the complexities of the modern workforce,” Harrison Kelly, managing director at Instructure Asia Pacific revealed.

Addressing competition and challenges, the AI dilemma

Another key factor driving technology adoption in vocational education institutions is the heightened competition from universities. According to the report, 65 percent of institutions said they are seeing a high increase in competition from universities offering nontraditional courses for students, such as short courses or micro-credentials.

The current inflationary environment has also had a mixed impact on these institutions. While 88 percent of institutions have experienced increased enrollments, cost pressures related to home life at 81 percent, household income, 74 percent, and access to technology, 74 percent remain concerns.

Moreover, the institutions expressed the need for assistance complying with standards, 45 percent and increased funding at 37 percent. These findings emphasize the sector's need for additional support to equip students with the required workplace readiness.

With the rising integration of technology in education, the emergence of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has presented a complex mix of challenges and opportunities for vocational institutions in the Philippines, reshaping their approach to teaching and learning.

While 32 percent of vocational institutions have incorporated AI tools into their operations, 38 percent have opted to ban them entirely. Additionally, 23 percent are familiar with these tools but choose not to use them, and a small fraction at six percent lack knowledge about them.

 

According to the report, administrative staff, 34 percent of them are more likely to utilize AI tools compared to trainers at 30 percent, and they are slightly less inclined to support bans on these tools at 38 percent admins versus 39 percent trainers.

Admins mainly use AI tools for research and writing, 59 percent, lesson plan creation, 49 percent and administrative tasks like email drafting, 46 percent.  Meanwhile, students utilize AI for research and writing, 76 percent, language translation, 46 percent and test preparation, 45 percent.

The report also highlights that vocational institutions are less concerned with plagiarism at 31 percent and more concerned with issues such as the loss of creativity and critical thinking, 52 percent and data privacy at 49 percent.

Despite some apprehensions and outright bans, most institutions, 91 percent have established guidelines for using generative AI, with 56 percent implementing light guidelines and 35 percent enforcing stricter ones.

To keep pace with the prevalence of AI tools, 75 percent of vocational education institutions in the Philippines actively offer AI training, showcasing their commitment to embracing and adapting to AI's technological disruptions.

“It's vital that institutions continue to provide strong support to students as they complete their courses and advance in their lifelong learning journey. This involves not only equipping them with the latest technological tools and skills but also overcoming inherent challenges in this rapidly changing educational landscape,” Kelly noted.

Instructure (NYSE: INST) is an education technology company dedicated to elevating student success, amplifying the power of teaching, and inspiring everyone to learn together. Today the Instructure Learning Platform, consisting of its flagship product Canvas LMS and several products serving K-12, higher education and professional education, supports tens of millions of educators and learners around the world. Learn more at www.instructure.com/en-au. (Photos/PR: Instructure/Deniz Zulueta)