Author Information
Rayhanah Mariano, Ateneo de Manila University, PhilippinesAbstract
The onset of Industry 4.0 demands for transformation in TVET curricula, pedagogy, and infrastructure. The study examines how TVET institutions integrate industry 4.0 and identifies enabling and constraining factors. This is a qualitative study, grounded in critical realism and morphogenetic approach. Semi-structured interview was conducted with TVET educators in the National Capital Region (NCR) to unpack underlying mechanisms and structural conditions influencing Industry 4.0 integration. Thematic analysis revealed five overarching dispositional themes: driving institutional integration to digital and industry 4.0 demands, strengthening collaborative partnerships and industry engagement, fostering professional development and transformative mindset, confronting infrastructural and financial challenges, and navigating policies and governance issues. Findings reveal dual trajectory in Philippine TVET, adaptive institutions are adopting digital tools, build learning factories, and sustainability-driven curricula, while others face significant structural constraints. Key enablers include synergistic, partnerships, industry-driven curriculum reforms, institutional cultures of collaboration, and professional development fostering adaptive mindsets. However, critical constraints persist including insufficient funding, outdated infrastructure, unclear policies, and resistance from less tech-savvy and older trainers. Socioeconomic barriers also impede learner access to digital tools, worsening educational inequality. This study provides novel empirical insights into Industry 4.0 in Philippine TVET through its critical realist lens, uncovering unique phenomena (e.g. informal industry linkages and symbolic compliance) and grassroots adaptation strategies. Further research may employ cross-regional comparisons to examine localized integration patterns and conduct longitudinal studies tracking long-term institutional transformation pathways. These findings underscore the need for context-sensitive policies balancing technological advancement with systematic readiness in TVET ecosystems.
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress