John Clements and University of Pangasinan Join Forces for
Workforce Development Training
by Paul Catiang and France Constantino

On July 19, 2007, leading human resources firm John Clements and the University of Pangasinan signed a contract that will enhance the province’s potential to address the demand for competent call center and business process outsourcing professionals. The contract signing was attended by Dr. Li Rivera, President of the University of Pangasinan; Raffy Baraan, Provincial Administrator representing the Governor of Pangasinan; Ryan Ravanzo, representing the Dagupan City Mayor’s Office; Jovi Bengzon, Chief Operating Officer of the Duma Group of Companies; Marieta Sorio, Dean of the University of Pangasinana; Ma. Paz Jaranilla, Trainer; Lil Dominguez, Chairman of John Clements; Carol Dominguez President and CEO of John Clements; Grace Sorongon, Vice President and Managing Director of John Clements; and Agnes Celdran, Business Development Director, John Clements—Human Resources Development Consulting.

Now more than ever, proficiency in oral and written English is considered not only an essential tool in penetrating the job market for aspiring employees, but also a key factor in the hiring and recruitment processes of many companies. The growing number of call centers has provided a burgeoning number of job opportunities for Filipinos who have basic communication and customer service skills. Currently, there are over 100 call centers in the Philippines, employing 112,000 people, and for this year alone, the industry will need 89,000 new hires. But, unfortunately, because of the lack of English skills, only about 40,000 new graduates will be hired. The need, therefore, to elevate the Filipinos’ competence in English verbal communication is of utmost necessity and importance.

To address this gap, John Clements Consultants, Inc. has designed a Workforce Development Program, a project spread over a three-month period starting with three Train-the-Trainers courses for the teachers, two 100-Hour Polishing English programs for selected students or graduates, and three Train-the-Assessors seminars to teachers as well. The Polishing English programs will address the short-term demand for immediate hires, while the Train-the-Trainers and Train-the-Assessors courses will increase the number of competent teachers and assessors.

Included in the 100-Hour Polishing English program is a pre-training activity which will assess the students. This is conducted to identify the Oral Proficiency Level of the students and their potential and fitness to work in the Contact Centers. The objective of this three-phased program is to raise the participants’ English proficiency levels to an employable level, and train effective and competent trainers and assessors to ensure the quality of the graduates produced. These training programs will last from one to three months.

The Workforce Development Training project enjoys the full support of the Honorable Amado Espino, Jr., Governor of the Province of Pangasinan, and the Mayor of Dagupan City, the Honorable Alipio Fernandez, Jr.

“We’re getting excited about this,” says Carol Dominguez after the contract signing. “We’d like to urge all the schools to do the same, so they can improve the English proficiency of their students and give them more career opportunities when they graduate.”

Any schools, local government units or other institutions interested in providing English proficiency training programs may call France Constantino of John Clements—Human Resources Development Consulting at 845-2093 or email her at france.constantino@johnclements.com.