India–Philippines Mission Strengthens Global South Partnership On Skills, Education And Mobility
SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Institutions: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship | Ministry of Education
A high-level Indian delegation led by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Education (MSDE), visited the Philippines under a Knowledge Exchange Mission aimed at advancing cooperation in skills, education, and workforce mobility. The three-day engagement focused on learning from the Philippines’ experience in technical-vocational training, labour migration systems, and digital skilling ecosystems, while sharing India’s models under Skill India and Digital India.
The mission featured representatives from MSDE, AICTE, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), alongside state-level officials from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Meetings with the Philippine Department of Education, TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), and multilateral partners explored joint pathways for:
Mutual recognition of skills certifications;
Institutional partnerships between Indian and ASEAN training centres; and
Cross-learning on data-driven skills policy and labour mobility.
The collaboration aligns with India’s Global South Cooperation framework, reaffirming shared priorities on inclusive growth, human capital development, and equitable migration.
This partnership supports India’s agenda to become a global skill hub by fostering international benchmarking of curricula, accreditation standards and labour mobility protocols. Insights from the Philippines can strengthen India’s Skill India Mission, PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0, and National Education Policy 2020 by embedding global employability, competency-based learning, and migrant worker protection. Such cooperation also advances Viksit Bharat 2047 goals of a productive, mobile, and future-ready workforce.
What is TESDA? → The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is the Philippines’ national agency for technical-vocational education and training (TVET). Its data-driven certification and placement systems are globally recognised for linking skilling with overseas employment—a key focus area for India’s evolving workforce strategy.
What is AICTE → All India Council for Technical Education:
A statutory body under the Ministry of Education, responsible for planning, accrediting, and regulating technical and management education in India. It oversees engineering, polytechnic, and management institutions, ensures curriculum quality, and integrates emerging areas like AI, data analytics, and green technologies into technical education.
What is NSDC→ National Skill Development Corporation:
A public–private partnership (PPP) under MSDE that acts as the key implementing and funding agency for large-scale skilling programmes. NSDC partners with training providers, industries, and state missions to establish skill centres, certify trainers, and promote outcome-based training aligned with labour-market demand.
Together, MSDE sets the policy, AICTE builds academic quality, and NSDC executes large-scale skill delivery, forming the backbone of India’s Skill India Mission and global skill-partnership strategy.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India leverage Global South partnerships to co-create frameworks for mutual recognition of skills, sustainable labour mobility, and shared regional prosperity?
Follow the full news here: India–Philippines Mission