Industry-academe partnership seeks to improve level of RP education

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc. (SMART) and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) inaugurated a wireless laboratory and cell-site that serves as a teaching facility for engineering students.

“By working with schools in offering relevant ECE education, we help students acquire a more realistic understanding of the world of telecommunications. In short, we partner with schools to produce industry-ready graduates,” explained Jay Bacoy, a senior manager at SMART who graduated from PLM and topped the 1991 ECE board exams.

The telco’s donation was given through its Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), 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 ECE.

PLM also gave an alumnus achievement award to Rolando Peña, head of SMART’s customer service assurance group.

The lab features various mobile phone network equipments, including an operational SMART GSM base station, which will enhance the learning experience of students in Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE).

PLM executive vice president Patrick Mariano said SMART’s contribution will help prepare students for their future jobs. “Our faculty and students are very happy. They are very thankful to SMART for this donation. Our ECE program will now be at par with the other universities in Metro Manila like La Salle and Ateneo, which are privately funded,” he said.

During the opening of the SWEEP lab, the university also recognized the accomplishments of Peña, a veteran in communications engineering with 27 years of experience in the industry. He was part of the team that first studied how to apply the technologies of personal computers to telecommunications.

“I would like to thank PLM for giving me the opportunity to be in this industry,” said Pena. “The training that we got here prepared us to meet the challenges in the workplace. We learned hard work and perseverance — doing our best to overcome obstacles in order to get the job done.”

“I feel so honored and humbled by the award. It’s good to be recognized by your alma mater and to be able to give back to them,” he added.

Through the SWEEP lab, Peña said PLM students will be challenged to think creatively about the possibilities of the technology. “This is a good opportunity for both SMART and PLM.”