I have just returned from a week in the Philippines where I visited a client's vocational and education campus which has been designed to offer local and international organisations an opportunity to source Australian qualified personnel. The operation is based at Clark outside of Manila within a "trade free zone" which has security and lifestyle benefits for its students including an international airport which currently services Asian inbound and outbound visitors. Whilst Clark Education City has its inaugural intake of students it is predicted that with two years there will be 15,000 students attending various courses from Hospitality and catering through IT, nursing, motor mechanics, commercial air-conditioning and business. It is planned that mining course will join the curriculum offering a fully operational mining facility so students can experience the operational dynamic of a open cut mine.
 
I thought it was opportune to visit the facility which is startling in its sophistication to gain a better insight into how some entrepreneurial individuals are seizing upon the skills shortage offering companies a conduit to service their humane capital needs by tailor making company specific courses. Whilst I was there a number of West Australian mining related companies were reviewing the facilities with a view to sponsoring the next intake of students.
 
It will be those organisations that review their "human capital attraction frameworks" and develop systems to educated and retain staff from non-mainsteam sources who will prevail long term with their staffing needs. Facilities such as Clark Education City are the new age of talent sourcing venues. As we move further into what will surely be a calamitous skills shortage globally a company's ability to maintain market dominance will be determined by mechanisms such as Clark Education City!