The FSTP document presents a comprehensive file of courses and training programs administered by the Special Committee on Scholarships (SCS). The catalogued matrix details information on the development sector by which the training are categorized, the specific donor country program, salient aspects of the course and the relevant agencies/institutions who have availed of or have expressed interest to participate in the particular course training.

The FSTP was evolved in 1986 as a measure to better address human resource development requirements of the government service, and the private sector including non-government organizations. In 1992, the SCS , in collaboration with participating agencies and institutions officially validated the document in a national workshop held in the National Economic and Development Authority.

The course/training programs listed in the FSTP are updated as required to respond to changing development needs of the country and donor government commitments. The course/training programs included in the FSTP are funded from foreign development assistance (ODA) and as such serve as the basis of the SCS for its annual planning and programming exercise for the Philippine’s availment of foreign scholarships and training grants. By and large, the courses/training programs contained in the FSTP are regularly offered to the Philippines. However, as institutional capability building plans adjust to current development priorities, correspondingly, the implementation of the FSTP becomes an interactive process.