Trends in Industrial Automation and Academic Initiatives in the Philippines: Assessment and Analysis of Mechatronics-Enabling Technologies, Skill Set Demands, and Academic Relevance

The study covers the assessment of mechatronicsenabling technology utility and skill set requirements in the industry as it addresses issues relative to human resource quality as it relates to current industrial automation trends and practices in the Philippines. The results of the assessment of industry utilities and industry’s skills expectations are compared to an academic assessment conducted concurrently that utilized a common benchmark assessment instrument to evaluate student’s skills and competencies on the basis of their experiences. A comparison of corresponding results is expected to affirm, using valid statistical tests, the mismatch between the skills required by employers and those possessed by students. Apart from these assessments, a supplementary review and analysis of industrial automation and related programs offered under the umbrella of the industrial technology program in the Philippines is conducted by examining related program prospectuses and course content to check whether the actual core courses and laboratory support services jibe with the industry’s requirements. The outcome of the study suggests the need for an infusion of mechatronics-based courses and support systems into the industrial technology programs as a bridging intervention to mitigate the industryacademe imbalance identified.