Ediphi, formerly known as Worldwide Internships Philippines, aims to bring new blended learning and work opportunities for Filipino hospitality students.
The sudden shift to online or modular learning modes during the pandemic’s peak hampered the Filipino student’s education and training. Even now, with Covid-19 restrictions being loosened, the education sector cannot simply go back to what was normal. To do so not only exposes students to potential harm but also impacts their personal growth through outdated practices. This is even more important in fields like Hospitality, which require physical applications of learning.
With training and work opportunities being crippled by environment and flight restrictions, more digital innovations in education are needed.
“The pandemic accelerated our commitment to make the benefits of international internships available for all, especially those in underserved areas,” said Ediphi Founder and CEO Cristina Imperial-Carl, a food & beverage professional with more than 20 years of experience across industries. “The pandemic also laid bare the huge voids to fill in internships and training, and an even bigger opportunity to reorganize the delivery of both.”
This reorganization not only includes the blend of face-to-face and virtual internships but also offers a new mode of digital learning through Online VR Powered Training. Ediphi’s Virtual Training Lab uses new and immersive VR and AR technology to create Metaverse classrooms that simulate the work environments of hotels, airlines, and cruise lines.
Moreover, the Virtual Training Lab’s environments are scalable and highly customizable, not just for the company or client, but for the needs of the interns or employees themselves. These digital platforms can gather data on each performance to help identify the strengths and opportunities for growth for the trainees. Through this data-oriented approach, training becomes democratized through accessibility. Ediphi is also working to record these credentials on the blockchain to heighten security.
As Imperial-Carl stresses, “We offer high quality, low-cost, personalized training by leveraging VR and AR technology. This way, we can train anyone from anywhere and make them career-ready in the most efficient and effective manner possible.”
Ediphi launched its pilot program in early 2020 with just 50 students. By the first quarter of 2022, Ediphi has partnered up with 30 schools and has 4,800 students across the Philippines from partner schools including the University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, University of the East, Centro Escolar University, University of Santo Tomas and more.
And with its partnerships with a wide range of visa sponsors, immigration specialists, universities, organizations, research facilities, and international hotel partners, Ediphi has been able to give its graduates unique work opportunities in the Culinary, Front Office, and Food & Beverage divisions abroad.
Through the Bridge USA Exchange Visitor Program, Ediphi sent interns to the top hospitality businesses in the US, like St. Regis Aspen and the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe. Its European Immersive Programs connected students to 5-star hotels and fine-dining restaurants in France and Spain. And Ediphi’s Asian Internship Programs deployed its students to Japan and Thailand for them to experience the wide range of cultures in Asia. Most recently, Ediphi partnered up with Canadian colleges and universities to provide a Study & Work Program in Canada.
These new blended learning modes and work opportunities will be crucial in attracting more Filipino students and universities into Ediphi’s programs. Manpower is one of the Philippines’ biggest export, and the field of Hospitality is not exempt from that. Currently, Ediphi has access to 6,500 interns and trainees from 50 College/University Partners. With the total number of Hospitality students in the Philippines estimated to be as much as 50,000, it’s safe to say that Ediphi is tapping into a specific need in the education sector that’s not being currently addressed.
As Ediphi continues to grow, its business development will build up by offering virtual training and upskilling programs to hotels, airlines, and cruise lines. Though its initial programs will be centered in Ediphi’s current partners in the US, it will soon expand to the APAC region as well. If all goes well, Ediphi aims to expand globally into Africa and MENA, and even into other industries.
Bootstrapped from the start, Ediphi looks to raise at least $2M in funds to improve its sales & marketing, operations and research & development.
“Immersive education through XR allows students and trainees to learn through experiences that are inaccessible to most. The metaverse gives wings to the imagination as VR and AR enhance retention and comprehension,” Imperial-Carl elaborated. “Ediphi is working to bring XR training to remote areas and underrepresented populations to create opportunities for growth and to open pathways to employment that provides a living wage.”
By the first quarter of 2023, Ediphi looks forward to activating its VR modules and metaverse environments in pilot programs with partner schools.