As part of the implementation of the Microfinance Capacity Building Program anchored on the Dual Training System (DTS) and Competency-Based Education (CBE) approach, a 3-day “Faculty Development Training on Microfinance Management” was held in Manila from 19-21 September 2012 for the faculty members of partner educational institutions which are running the DTS-CBE curriculum located in priority areas in the country. For the school year 2012, there are five (5) schools and one training institute implementing the program in seven (7) venues, namely: Araullo University, College of the Immaculate Conception, and ASKI Skills and Training Institute, all in Nueva Ecija; Bicol University (Gubat and Daraga campuses); University of Iloilo, and the University of Makati. Bicol University will be graduating its pioneer class this school year 2012-2013. Two (2) schools, Brokenshire College and Green Valley College, both based in Mindanao, are in the process of completing registration requirements for the course offering.

This Training of Trainers (ToT) aims to build on the capacities of the faculty/trainers on microfinance and micro-enterprise development, and for this year, focus is on the concepts of Microfinance Management to equip them in teaching core microfinance and business subjects as well as in relating management concepts and principles in the context of microfinance and micro-enterprise development.

The 3-day course adopted the case study method as a learning process for greater participation and interaction in better understanding the state of the microfinance industry and its environment, and to identify learning opportunities from the different case situations for deepening specific subject areas taught by the participants. The topics discussed include cause and effect of poverty and how access to financial services help the poor, coping mechanisms/strategies of the poor, cash flow patterns, micro-enterprise characteristics of responsive and sustainable financial services and responsive enterprise development initiatives, opportunities for financial services and micro-enterprise development as well as success requirements, strategic choices and managing growth, performance assessment framework, financial product/service delivery design, development models, credit and risk management, human resource management and financial management.

The course was handled by Prof. Ronald Chua, Lead Convenor of the Capacity Building Working Group of the PinoyME Consortium. The case materials utilized during the training were provided by Prof. Chua in his capacity as Academic Champion of “Microfinance in MBA Project” of the Asian Institute of Management. The participants (grouped according to schools) were challenged to learn how to read/skim through the cases (which were quite long) and to discuss and analyze the situation under limited time and that are responsive to the guide questions.   A plenary presentation and interaction was facilitated by Prof. Chua.

The Microfinance Capacity Building Program is a joint initiative of the PinoyME Consortium, Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation/Germany (HSF) in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Microfinance Council of the Philippines (MCPI) and its regional councils, and the academic community led by above-mentioned educational institutions.