The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) continues to advance its commitment to academic excellence and industry-responsive education through its participation in an international benchmarking initiative in China.
The engagement aims to strengthen the implementation of the TESDA-CHED Region VII Pilot Ladderized Diploma Program, particularly in developing relevant, competency-based, and future-ready engineering and technology education.
Representing USJ-R in the initiative are University President Rev. Fr. Eduardo S. Celiz Jr. and Dr. Dennis Anthony Kilongkilong, Dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture.
Hosted by Quanzhou Vocational and Technical University (QVTU), the benchmarking program provides Philippine delegates with opportunities to explore China's approaches to technical and vocational education and training. Key areas of focus include curriculum development, hands-on skills training, industry-education integration, school-enterprise partnerships, and technical talent development.
On Day 1, the learning engagement featured academic exchanges, visits to campus facilities and training centers, and industry benchmarking activities with leading companies, including Midea, Huawei, BYD, Sincetech (Fujian) Technology Co., Ltd., and Panpan Food. These engagements offered participants firsthand insights into how emerging technologies, digital transformation, and evolving industry demands are incorporated into relevant and competency-based training programs.
A central focus of the benchmarking initiative is understanding how China's vocational education system bridges the gap between academic preparation and workplace requirements. Through strong institutional partnerships, technology-enabled learning environments, and industry-aligned practical training, participating delegates can examine approaches that effectively connect classroom learning with real-world applications. These insights are particularly valuable in advancing the development and implementation of PQF Level 5 Diploma Programs and strengthening their articulation with higher education pathways.
The initiative also provides opportunities to learn from China's advancements in semiconductor technology, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging industries. Through institutional visits, industry exposure, technical presentations, and knowledge-sharing sessions, delegates can explore innovative practices in curriculum design, modern training infrastructure, technology integration, and industry-academe collaboration.
The benchmarking initiative reinforces USJ-R's continuing efforts to strengthen the link between technical-vocational education and higher education through accessible and well-articulated ladderized learning pathways. By learning from international models that integrate competency-based training, technological innovation, and industry collaboration, the University seeks to contribute to the development of educational programs that are relevant, inclusive, and aligned with the demands of the future.
