Signing the agreement in ceremonies held at PWU’s Conrado Benitez Hall were Tony Tissington, Unisys marketing director, and PWU president Dr. Jose Conrado Benitez.
Acting president Dr. Amelou Benitez Reyes, chancellor Dr. Dolores Lasan, vice president Encarnacion Raralio and acting vice president Cecile Medel stood as witnesses.
Dr. Eric Velasco, president of First Distance, Dr. Lydia Padernal of the Technology and Livelihood Resources Center and Tissington spoke about the partnership’s significance.
A trailblazer in distance education, PWU has set up affiliated Learning Centers nationwide and offers online courses through its Graduate School.
Unisys complements these existing programs by providing computing power and IT infrastructure management services.
Dr. Jose Conrado Benitez said the partnership aims to make PWU a center for excellence in distance and online education. "We can complement each other in developing and carrying out a strategic marketing plan for a viable and sustainable e-ducation initiative," he added.
Under the program, the e-learning initiative will focus on online academic courses, non-formal education, service centers and support services in an academic setting.
Benitez said the program will be expanded to cover short-term livelihood courses and delivery of courseware for corporate and governmental clients, including overseas Filipino workers and local government units.
The initial online course offering is targeted in June this year. Once operational, the partnership will enable PWU "to get global presence" and for Unisys, to make inroads in the country’s academic community.