June 15, 2022
First Gen-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has always believed in the power of the youth to transform, make positive changes, and contribute to a better society. Fueled by this belief, the leading renewable energy firm collaborated with the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) to help its SIKAT scholars secure a regenerative future by being career-ready.
SIKAT is EDC’s banner education program that provides quality education to underprivileged yet deserving students from its host communities in all sites through financial assistance, scholarship, and mentoring.
EDC’s new partner, ASSIST, is a development organization that specializes in developing solutions that promote resilience to social, economic, and environmental challenges. EDC will be engaging the organization for its SIKAT Program in creating innovations for career placement assistance for the scholars. Specifically, ASSIST will be developing the “Career Engine” platform designed to prepare graduating students to be job-ready.
The Career Engine is a social initiative of DigiBayanihan and ASSIST to help young Filipinos be well-versed with the in-demand professional skills at work. It is an online platform that features a unique learning system for the students. It aims to help them get the required training to prepare themselves for various job skills. There is also an internship tool that enables the students to connect directly to recruiters of partner government units and big corporations to kick start their careers.
Nancy Ibuna, EDC Head of Corporate Relations Department, expressed her excitement for the new partnership that will lead to improvements in the current career placement assistance of SIKAT for its scholars.
“We have been conducting job readiness workshops for our scholars every year since 2015. However, we recognize that we need to innovate and transform. We feel the need to look at the digital platform and other technological advancements,” Ibuna said.
She also mentioned that with ASSIST, they expect more exciting engagements with EDC SIKAT scholars as they prepare to face the real world once they graduate from the SIKAT program.
ASSIST Managing Director Sreenivas Narayanan commended EDC’s forward-looking program SIKAT and thanked EDC for partnering with ASSIST on this project. “I am very proud to be part of the SIKAT program as a development partner that will bring innovative ideas through technological advancements, build possibilities, and open several opportunities for EDC’s scholars.”
Narayanan also noted that students are lucky to be selected by the leading geothermal firm. “Congratulations, scholars, for qualifying in the SIKAT program. Our partnership with EDC is meant for the long-term, and this is only the first of several benefits that you will get to prepare you for a very interesting world of work,” he said.
In a message delivered by ASSIST Executive Director Francis Macatulad, he acknowledged EDC for being one of the corporations that go over and beyond its mission by being at the forefront of the programs that enhance the environment, empower partner communities, creates regenerative development, and provide future generations a better life through the SIKAT program. He also committed to ensuring the improved employability of the students. “Through the Career Engine platform, we will give scholars a clear advantage in the job marketplace.”
EDC Vice President and Head of Corporate Support Functions Regina Pascual also expressed her appreciation to ASSIST for taking a big step towards the scholars’ regenerative future.
“We are sincerely grateful for the opportunity to be an avenue for our passionate and dedicated SIKAT scholars to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. I believe that students must be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to take advantage of the many opportunities the real world offers through the additional support that ASSIST will provide,” Pascual said.
Amelaine Wang, and Research and Acquisitions Associate Andrey Chan, and some SIKAT scholars all over the country.
Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is First Gen Corporation’s 100% RE subsidiary with over 1,480MW total installed capacity that accounts for 20 percent of the country’s total installed RE capacity. Its 1,185MW geothermal portfolio comprises 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity and is the 3rd largest geothermal producer in the world.