Overseas Filipino workers and returning OFWs are among those who can now study artificial intelligence, business, and other digital subjects without paying tuition through a newly expanded online training arrangement at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The agency confirmed on Friday that it had folded selected modules from the HP LIFE Program into its online learning platform, a step made possible through a partnership with the HP Foundation and Unesco-UNEVOC. The collaboration is being coordinated under the Unesco Global Skills Academy, an effort built around lifelong learning and employability worldwide.
Course offerings span artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, marketing, communication, finance, and business operations, with several modules dedicated to AI fundamentals, responsible use of the technology, and how it can be applied in real workplaces. Tesda noted that the HP LIFE Program carries more than 30 courses at present.
Access is open well beyond the typical training applicant. Students, fresh graduates, jobseekers, career shifters, working professionals, and OFWs both abroad and returning home can sign up, according to the agency. Program materials indicate that most courses set no requirement for a college degree, prior employment, or any particular level of schooling.
The technical demands are modest. A learner needs a working email address, an internet connection, and a device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. For a smoother experience with video lessons and modules, the program recommends a stable connection and an up-to-date browser.
Those interested begin by going to e-tesda.gov.ph and setting up a free account on the Tesda Online Program. The process requires filling in registration details and confirming the account through an activation link emailed to the user. Once verified, learners can look through the catalog and enroll on their own.
The courses run at each learner’s own pace, letting them study whenever their schedule and connection allow, the agency said. Certain modules ask learners to pass quizzes, assessments, or final tests before completion.
A digital Certificate of Completion may be issued once the required modules and assessments are done. Tesda was careful to draw a line between this and a National Certificate or Certificate of Competency, the latter of which still calls for an in-person competency assessment at an accredited center. Completed courses also feed into the Skills Pathways feature of the Tesda Skills Passport mobile app.
Tesda Secretary Kiko Benitez framed the move as a way to keep Filipino workers viable as workplaces lean harder on technology. “As industries continue to transform through technology and innovation, it is important that Filipinos are equipped with the skills needed to remain competitive and adaptable in the future of work. Using e-Tesda, we can further expand access to quality training,” Benitez said.
The agency reiterated that there is no charge for the courses under the arrangement, and program materials confirm that most carry neither tuition nor an entrance examination.
