Bouncing back with the Net

Falling trapeze artists do it often enough – bounce right back and gain their bearings with the help of a net.

This time, another net might just help the Philippine economy bounce back in similar fashion.

Like all of mass media, the Net is growing by leaps and bounds across the globe, not only in terms of cutting-edge technology but also in its demand for labor.

Where IT employment is concerned, a 1999 survey done by the Gartner Group concluded that 79% of the total cost of building an e-commerce site is labor-related while only 10% is spent on software and 11% on hardware.

Being labor-intensive, the Net is, thus, one branch of mass media the Philippines can surely benefit from. Already a major source of overseas foreign workers, the Philippines could get a further boost if it produces more skilled IT workers.

The new Internet skills-oriented school, iAsia Academy, aims to do exactly that. Hence its motto: "Net skills for the Net world."

The 100% Filipino-owned iAsia Academy, headed by its chief executive officer John Alcordo, seeks to become a comprehensive resource for persons pursuing Internet careers and for companies seeking to hire or keep skilled Internet talent.

"Filipinos are rated as being among the best – if not already the best – service workers in the world," says Roberto Estebanlar, iAsia Academy’s executive vice president, at one of iAsia’s spankingly sleek rooms at Makati’s Enterprise Center.

"iAsia aims to establish Filipinos as among the best Internet professionals in the world," Estebanlar continues. "We are a partner in government’s vision to make the Philippines an IT world hub."

He notes, however, that the Philippines still seems unprepared in many ways. "Banks now are into IT banking," he cites as an example, "but a lot of companies going to E-commerce are not prepared."

Estebanlar has seen first-hand the Net’s astonishing boom.

After obtaining an Economics degree from UP Diliman and earning MBA units in De La Salle University, Estebanlar worked for the auditing firm, Sycip, Gorres and Velayo (SGV) where he noted the "exponential growth" of IT-related careers offshore.

After helping out in his family’s agribusiness and joining Informatics in l994 – which grew 400% in less than three years – Estebanlar then became an IT distributor for the Internet solutions provider Asia Online.

Based on his own experience, Estebanlar recommends the IT field to those considering a career shift as well as to those who might just be thinking of a field to embark on. His observation appears to have a basis in fact – at iAsia, majority of the students are in their early to mid 20s to their 40s.

"We are just in the threshold (of the IT boom)," observes Estebanlar. "Now is the defining time."

What differentiates iAsia, which opened in July of this year, from other Asian computer technology schools, is its focus on Internet careers." It is the first to specialize in Net skills development. We want to be known as the ‘Internet career development leader’ in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

Carnegie Technology Education

iAsia’s curriculum also sets its apart. It follows the Carnegie Technology Education Program which was developed by the Carnegie Technology Education, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Carnegie Mellon University. CMU has been ranked by US News & World Report as number one in e-Commerce offerings; number one in management information systems; and number four among computer science schools in the US.

At iAsia, the minimum program requirements are a high school diploma and proficiency in personal computer and word processing and Internet browsing ability. There is no entrance test requirement.

In-house financing schemes offered at lower than market rates and other payment terms are available to assist students pay their tuition.

"After two years (on the fast track) of education at iAsia," elaborates Estebanlar, "a student will have earned two certificates from CMU, multiple vendor certificates and on-the-job training. All in all, this makes their training almost at par with a four-year college education."

Hands-on training

The two-year IT course offered at iAsia is totally hands-on. Lessons take place in state-of-the-art Internet laboratories where students are guided by instructors trained and certified by iAsia’s accredited vendors and alliance partners.

"We simulate actual business development environments," points out Estebanlar. "All our classrooms are wired for IT and we use 100% branded equipment."

This means that all of the courseware used in iAsia are sourced directly from its partners.

Courses in iAsia are designed by professionals for professionals. "To assure personalized teaching," adds Estebanlar, "we have a student/teacher ratio of 1:6 or at the most, 1:12."

"iAsia is the first to offer lifetime career mentoring," says Estebanlar. "This means that we assist students beyond their graduation and help them in their professional growth. iAsia is there from the assessment of a student to his job placement (i.e., project integration and internship) and continuous improvement."

Eventually, iAsia hopes to expand nationwide through partnerships with universities. "We have already talked to several schools," reveals Estebanlar.

Likewise, iAsia is preparing additional creative courses dealing with graphic design; animation track; security track; and additional tracks on vendor specific E-business solutions.

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"The Philippine Economy," believes Estebanlar, "is resilient."

How we perform in the Net with the help of schools like iAsia might just in time show us exactly how much.

(For inquiries, visit iAsia Academy at the Lobby Level, Tower II, The Enterprise Center, Ayala Ave cor. Paseo de Roxas, Makati City or call tel. no. 757-2222 or log on to http://www.Academy.iAsiaDigital.com.)