Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines NEEDS ASSESSMENT

English Language Proficiency Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines English Language Proficiency Oral Proficiency Evaluation English Placement Test

Methodology Evaluation focused on the following: comprehension fluency Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Methodology Evaluation focused on the following: comprehension fluency grammar vocabulary idioms pronunciation confidence

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Remarks: Under each item, the FEs were rated weak, fair, average, good or excellent For the Placement Test, the FEs were tested on grammar, vocabulary and listening comprehension

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Recommendations For FEs at levels 2 and 3, BLC, through their specially designed programs to upgrade their oral and listening skills, can move up to two levels. For FEs at levels 4 through 8, BLC, through appropriate courses in reading and writing skills appropriate to graduate study, can move up to one level

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Action taken The eight FEs at levels 2 and 3 took an intensive 4 – week English language training course. All FEs underwent a two-week Technical Writing training course

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Results For the 8 FEs who took the intensive English, there was a slight improvement in their scores from the pre-test and post-test in writing. However, the impact of the training in raising the reading scores from the pre-test was very minimal In the overall evaluation of the training course on technical writing, half of the participants rated the entire training course on technical writing in English as good while six trainees (38 percent) assessed it as very good

Computer Competency Assessment Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Computer Competency Assessment Microsoft Office Application Tools Troubleshooting and Basic Computer Operations Internet Research and Application Facilities

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Recommendation The 22 FEs with minimal knowledge of computers will be trained in basic computer operations, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Internet Applications.

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Action Taken A 40-hours computer training spread over two weeks was designed to meet the required computer skills of the 22 FEs. Result A good 80 percent of the FEs passed the training course on computer skills. The participants rated the modules on word processing, presentation graphics and introduction to internet as the most applicable to their work and interest. The overall assessment of the training course was very good.

Research Needs Assessment Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Research Needs Assessment Methodology: Questionnaire Survey and Open Forum background information research training research experience computer literacy internet use research needs

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Recommendations Research training program should include basics of research, statistical analysis and interpretation, and writing

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Action taken The PSSC custom designed a two-week 80-hour training workshop on social research conceptualization and methodologies including recommended research topics..

Educational Advising and Counseling Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Educational Advising and Counseling Initial group and individual advising were conducted. FEs who required additional guidance were referred to a specialist in specific field.

What worked? English proficiency Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines What worked? English proficiency Grouping of FEs based on levels of proficiency Custom-designed training course to raise level

What worked? Computer training: Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines What worked? Computer training: For FEs with minimal skills, more confidence in using computers for research and presentations

What worked? Research methodology: Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines What worked? Research methodology: Presentation of research proposals by FEs to showcase research and technical writing skills

Recommendations to improve needs assessment and pre-academic training Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Recommendations to improve needs assessment and pre-academic training Administer the institutional TOEFL as part of needs assessment English training courses to be conducted before FEs take the TOEFL and IELTS Customised research training workshop for the social sciences and humanities

Recommendations to improve needs assessment and pre-academic training Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program - Philippines Recommendations to improve needs assessment and pre-academic training Intensive course on technical writing Maximize ties with British Council, PAEF, NGOs involved in research, and academics for educational assessment and advising