News and Features
SWEEP Gains More Ground On Its 2nd Phase
[July 4, 2007/ Manila] - Pursuant to its continuing efforts at improving the level of technology and engineering education in the country, particularly in the field of Electronics and Communications Engineering, Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) makes further headway as it goes into its second phase (P2).
P2 consists of collective efforts focusing on wireless broadband communication, bolstering the industry-academe partnership between Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) and the 40 SWEEP member schools nationwide.
For the continuing education component of SWEEP, Smart has partnered with other industry leaders for a series of teacher trainings on topics including Internet Protocol, Mobile Technology, IPTV, DVBH and other emerging wireless technologies.
The faculty immersion program which was introduced last year has been decentralized to give participating engineering professors from SWEEP partner schools better exposure in Field Operations work in local areas where Smart has complete network elements. Working as on-the-job trainees under Smart’s local engineering groups for two weeks, the professors are given the opportunity to gain a more realistic understanding of the telecoms industry through lectures and field works. Knowledge acquired from the experience may be passed on to their students and co-faculty.
Smart is the first, and remains to be the only telecommunications company to open its doors to this kind of activity.
SWEEP labs located within the campuses are set for technological upgrading as well. The laboratories, which provide a comprehensive detailing of the development in cellular communications technology, will soon have hot spots to allow wireless Internet surfing.
The SWEEP schools are also about to take on a major role in the country’s disaster preparedness and response program. Smart is instigating a partnership between the schools and Phivolcs that will ultimately create a network of monitoring stations across the nation. This undertaking will give the schools a first hand experience on how technology can save lives.
Other P2 efforts for implementation this year include a year extension of the free Smart Bro Internet connection inside SWEEP labs, awarding of technical scholarships to selected faculty, a program website made even more interactive, and additional incentives for SWEEP trainors from the Smart Network Services Division.
A first-of-its kind industry-academe partnership launched in May 2003, SWEEP has covered a lot of ground in the past four years. It has conducted over 140 teacher trainings and technological seminars. A program website was created.
Staged annually are the SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards and the PalaECEpan quiz challenge. It has involved its partner schools in the Smart Schools Program, another community initiative of SMART that aims to provide public high schools with Internet access, online content and training. Finally, an OJT program consisting of a special curriculum was made available to students from its partner schools. @
