The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is keen on maintaining and expanding its collaboration with Israel through the AgroStudies program, which focuses on agricultural internships. TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez emphasized the importance of technology in agriculture, noting that the partnership allows Filipino farmers to gain insights into Israel’s advanced farming technologies and successful business strategies. The partnership, formalized in 2020 with Israel’s Agrostudies International Training Center, offers an 11-month internship that covers advanced farm technologies, horticulture, animal science, and entrepreneurial skills. The first group of interns traveled to Israel in March 2021, and the latest batch of 694 participants departed in December 2024. Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss recently met with Benitez to discuss further enhancements in vocational training, particularly in agriculture.
In addition to Israel, TESDA is exploring new avenues for collaboration with Botswana in technical-vocational education and training (TVET). Botswana’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Major General Gotsileene Morake (Ret.), also met with Benitez to explore potential joint initiatives aimed at improving skills development in both nations. Botswana’s Vocational Brigades program, which focuses on equipping youth with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship, was highlighted as a model for potential cooperation. Benitez stressed that learning from countries like Israel and Botswana would help TESDA enhance its training programs to better meet the needs of Filipino workers and address both local and global workforce demands, ensuring inclusivity.