The said partnership is aligned with plans for Strengthened SHS Curriculum that will be launched in the forthcoming academic year.
Last January 15, testaurant giant Jollibee Group officiated its partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) to co-develop the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Tech Pro elective in Senior High School (SHS), which is part of the new curriculum that will kick off in School Year 2026-27.
The QSR Curriculum and Work Immersion Program—which Jolibee said reflects the group’s Inspire Joy leadership philosophy that enables young Filipino students to believe in their abilities, broaden career possibilities, and pursue their aspirations— will consist of the two closely connected components.
The program reflects the Jollibee Group’s It’s also aligned with the Group’s sustainability agenda, Joy for Tomorrow, enabling inclusive growth for communities where the Company operates.
The curriculum part, as per the Jollibee Group, will introduce students to the nature of the QSR industry, build their foundational awareness and skills suited for fast-paced, high-volume environments where discipline, consistency, teamwork, and systems are critical.
Meanwhile, students will be immersed through structured in-store exposure, where students will be given the chance to translate classroom concepts into real-world experience and develop the right workplace behaviors.
Ruth Angeles, CHRO at Jollibee Group Philippines and HR Head for Jollibee International, noted, “Together, the curriculum and work immersion are designed to help learners graduate with employable, future-ready competencies so they can step into the world of work with readiness, confidence, and aspiration.”
“As we build these competencies in our students, this is how we support workforce readiness. This is how we help bridge the gap between schools and work. And this is how this initiative creates value—for students, for industry, and for the future workforce we all depend on,” Angeles underscored the value of the initiative.
In addition, she also emphasized the importance of mobilizing a cross-functional workgroup of well-experienced industry experts across the restaurant giant to translate QSR knowledge into classroom-ready learning experiences aligned with DepEd standards.
For his part, Jollibee Group Philippines CEO and Jollibee Global Heaf Joseph Tanbuntiong, he highlighted, “For us at the Jollibee Group, this is fundamentally about nation-building. Sustainability is not only about systems or scale, but also about investing early in the next generation, equipping them with skills, confidence, and values that allow them to contribute meaningfully to society.”
He also said that through their move to help strengthen learning and improve employability, they aren’t also helping buold stronger communities in the Philippines.
“Real change happens when education and industry work together, when what students learn in school is informed by what the real world expects, and when industry steps up as a partner in education,” Tanbuntiong furthered. “This initiative will change the way young Filipinos see their future, and it will give them a joyful pathway filled with hope and opportunity.”
