Press Release
UMAK students learn about telco industry requirements from SMART
[October 23, 2008/Manila] - As they professionalize their programs, government-run schools like the University of Makati (UMAK) can find an ally in industrial partners that provide training, equipment and other resources.
"We're aiming for high employability. Our students face stiff competition from graduates of other universities. But partners like SMART can inform them about the industry's requirements and what they need to do to succeed," said Ferdinand R. Pacis, UMAK's Institute for Professional Program (IPP) department head.
With the support of Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART), UMAK students are learning about the latest technology in the telecommunications industry under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP).
SWEEP is a first-of-its-kind industry-academe partnership that seeks to improve the level of technology and engineering education in the country, particularly in the field of Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE).
UMAK has been a SWEEP partner school since 2004. The university has also signed up for SWEEP Phase 2, which will include a donation of wireless broadband equipment from SMART.
As part of its support, SWEEP held a three-day training for 35 UMAK students and five instructors. Topics included a review of the Fundamentals of Communications Systems and Digital Communications, and GSM Systems Training.
"This is SMART's way to give back to schools and the community. It gives us the chance to share our practical experience with the students," explained Erwin G. Lacerna, senior engineer from SMART's Network Services Division.
"From theories, the students will see the actual application of technology in SMART," added Jay Kenneth Navarro of SMART’s NSD. "They will see the evolution of technology from analog, 2G, 3G to high-speed wireless technology. As early as now, they can have an idea on what to expect at work."
IPP offers technical courses that can lead to an equivalent engineering course. "After graduation, our students become the industry's workforce," shared Pacis. Those who take up telecommunications technology become linemen and technicians while graduates of electronics technology can go into radio or TV repair. Graduates of four-year technology courses can also opt to take up three more years in another university to get an engineering degree.
Eventually, the institute hopes to offer Engineering courses as well. For now, it's starting with Civil Engineering by inviting instructors from TUP and renting facilities.
Pacis said IPP has strict standards, especially when accepting students of four-degree courses. "We only get those who have at least an 85% general average. We don't accept rejects."
Some of their enrollees are very poor. "As a student, one of our graduates used to walk everyday to school. His mother washes clothes and his father's a construction worker. When he needed materials for a project, he would raise money by washing the cars of his teachers," related Pacis. The school's parents and faculty association also provides support to needy and deserving students.
Hence, technical trainings that could improve their chances at employment are welcome.
"We really hope to get into the telecommunications industry and not end up working in a fast food like other graduates," said Mark Zeus L. Botardo, one of several third year BS Telecommunications Technology students who attended the training. The SWEEP training gave "information that will be quite useful when we have our OJT in the near future," Botardo added.
He was really interested to learn more about cellular communications. "Our trainer talked about signalling and how we can accumulate calls or text messages in any direction, even if we're out-of-town or driving a car. Learning about how the signal is being distributed to the people is a great and incredible thing."
Botardo's classmate, Cyrus John P. Cajipo, said: "I enjoyed learning about the principle and operation of GSM because Engr. Prospero Rosacay really simplified it in a way for students to understand. He also cited examples and problems regarding this system."
Moner G. Raguindin, Instructor III, said the training from SMART can help them align their teaching objectives with industry standards. "We're glad that this is available not only to the teachers but to the students as well. We hope this will be a regular program," said Raguindin, who attended SWEEP's faculty immersion program last summer.
"This training will help uplift the morale of the students by bringing in new faces to upgrade the academic standing," commented Pacis. @
