Iloilo City Community College learns US practices
The Iloilo City Community College (ICCC) learned best practices of local colleges in the United States of America (USA) through the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) of the U.S. Department of State April 1 to 9.
Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said ICCC's inclusion among the best local government unit-managed colleges in the country is a manifestation of successful efforts to help poor but deserving Ilonggo youth.
ICCC Administrator Mathilde Octavio was one of the 10 select delegates including two other local colleges and three private schools chosen by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to join the study tour.
"We learned the best practices of various community colleges in the United States especially in terms of their operations, management, curriculum development, teaching initiatives as well as private sector participation," noted Octavio.
They visited University of the District of Columbia Community College; Northern Virginia Community College; American Association of Community College; Austin City College District in Austin, Texas; and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Octavio said among the best practices that can be implemented in ICCC is creation of Associate and Certificate Programs.
"We offer four-year courses but in the US they have short programs. So maybe we can suggest if we could also offer Associate or Certificate Programs. It can even benefit both the City Government and future enrollees since it will only last for a couple of years. It will be less expensive considering that our clienteles are poorest of the poor," she proposed.
"They are also partnering with the private sectors and introducing college units to Junior and Senior High School students and afterwards crediting the units to the community college where they prefer to study," Octavio stated.
Following the visit, the CHED and US Embassy required the delegates to pass a concept paper which also contained the things they have learned during the study tour.
"The concept paper will be passed to CHED as they will collate all these so that they will know if there is a need to revise some of their policies," added Octavio. (Iloilo City PIO)
TIIC-Molo extension offers 2 new courses
The Technical Institute of Iloilo City (TIIC)-Molo extension campus at Diamond Jubilee Hall in Mabini Street, City Proper is set to offer two new courses for free, this year.
These are the in-demand one-year Housekeeping NC II and Emergency Medical Services NC II, said TIIC- Molo Administrator Mathilde Octavio.
"We are already done with the final briefing and critic with Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA). We are now in the process of canvassing the tools and equipment to be used, but these courses were already approved," Octavio explained.
The funds will come from the General Fund and Special Education Fund (SEF).
"Since we are manpower provider, we have to offer courses based on the demand since there are jobs waiting for our graduates," Octavio said.
"They will be given completion certificate, but they need to pass the assessment test before they will be given with NCII certification," she added.
Interested applicants must be a high school graduate, resident of Iloilo City, must secure recommendation letter from the barangay and must fill-up an application form at TIIC-Molo campus.
Meanwhile, Octavio said TIIC- Molo main campus received additional P2-million scholarships from TESDA.
She added there are available 75 slots each for Carpentry NC II, Masonry NCII, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII and Construction Painting NCII.
The other courses are Plumbing NCII and Automotive NCII. (Iloilo City PIO)