IT HAD been in multiple and different reports that Covid-19, by this time, is no longer just a health crisis. Over the months of quarantine, curfew, and liquor ban implementation, it has also become an economic crisis. On top of this, different business establishments had to close down, others had to cut costs by decreasing operations thus reducing workforce in the process.
Many had to lose their jobs. While losing a job is undeniably a depressing situation, resilient Filipinos may tend to find jobs not in line with their previous careers just to bring food to the table and to pay the bills. But now, more than ever, is actually the perfect time to upgrade the learning and the skills to be ready for better employment the moment working situations return to its version of normal.
The Ateneo de Davao Academy of Lifelong Learning (ADD-ALL) aims to do just that. Founded in 2018, ADD-ALL provides an avenue for their adult learners to "upskill, re-skill, and cross-skill their abilities for individual, academic, and professional development."
In an interview with ADD-ALL Director Ayessa Marie Velasquez, he shared that when they were starting out in 2018, they noticed that most of the adults enrolling in their class pick the classes mostly for their individual development. She further shared that some of these students took these classes as they had been eyeing to learn this since they were younger and only find the time now to do so.
Two years ago, some of the classes they started offering included Floristry, Polymer Clay, Oil Painting, Basic AutoCAD, Urban Gardening, Creative Writing, and many others in that field.
Eventually, especially during the onset of the pandemic, Velasquez said they noticed how the demand for courses also changed. More than the individual development, the learners were also looking for courses that would upgrade their skills in the academic and professional field and bring more value to them in their workplace. Some private companies would even approach them to create a special course for a department in their office.
Courses of ADD-ALL are divided into three tracks: Continuing Individual Development (CID), Continuing Academic Development (CAD), and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Velasquez shared that they have partnered with the Graduate School of Ateneo de Davao University for some of their courses listed under CAD track. Should the ADD-ALL learner decide to pursue graduate studies, the course they took from ADD-ALL may be credited to their graduate study units.
Primarily targeting adults and young professionals, Velasquez said learning should be continuous whether for one's own growth or for the company as well.
With the quarantine and movement restrictions, instead of offering classes that require physical interactions like swimming, ADD-ALL offered courses that may be taught remotely. Their biggest-hit courses now are Accounting for Non-accountants, Income and Business Taxation, Stocks, Funds, and Investments, Social Media Marketing, and Crisis Communication among many others.
Some of their learners are small business owners in Davao City, young professionals who were asked by their office to participate, and government personnel with the common aim of strengthening specific areas that they deem necessary to improve on.
On top of that, they also offered a specific course for interested medical professionals here. Their Organ Donation Innovative Strategies in Southeast Asia aims to "to identify the barriers and opportunities for improvement in organ donation and design an action plan according to the case." The course is one of the cross-curricular components of the postgraduate program ensuring transfer of competencies in the field of organ donation to the professional setting.
To know about offered courses of ADD-ALL, message them on their Facebook account Ateneo de Davao Academy of Lifelong Learning or email them at lifelonglearning@addu.edu.ph.