USJ-R boosts engineering courses to meet demand

CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) aims to augment its engineering department, after noting a sharp increase in the number of engineering enrollees in the last few semesters.

USJ-R president Enrico Peter A. Silab said that the university is currently working on different partnerships with industry players, universities abroad, including its collaboration with the USJ-R Alumni Association.

Likewise, the university is also requesting the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to revise its existing curriculum that will incorporate technology update, such as simulation, and design, among others.

Compared to the number of enrollees in nursing and ICT (Information Communication Technology) courses, Silab said enrollees for engineering courses have gone up significantly in the last few semesters due to the upbeat demand for engineers regardless of economic condition.

Silab said the university noted a decline of nursing enrollees, as well as in ICT, as employment demand for nurses abroad is not anymore viable, and there are surplus of nurses in the Philippines who landed in non-medical jobs.

He said development is an industry trend, while other universities also noted a recovery of engineering enrollees lately.

Engineers on the other hand, are continuously in-demand, as all industries need engineers in different fields. Besides, overseas employers are always requiring for engineers.

Mechanical Engineers, and Electrical and Communications Engineers are always in demand because every company are required to hire these skills all over the world. Also, Industrial Engineering is coming into play in terms of employment demand.

Recently, USJ-R signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Toyo University in Japan, for an exchange faculty and students agreement. USJ-R will teach English language to Japanese faculty and students, while USJ-R will learn from engineering technologies and curriculum in the University.

Likewise, the school also has an existing tie-up with Korean University of Technology for technology-transfer agreement, among others.

Silab said USJ-R is also investing in improving its hardware and software tools for the over 1,800 undergraduate engineering students in order to keep them competitive.

In a press conference held recently, USJ-R is also partnering with the University’s Engineering Alumni Association, specifically the batch 1987 for its upcoming 19th Alumni Homecoming celebration in February next year.

The association’s theme dubbed “ Empowering the Future Through the Evolution of Green Technology,” Silab said is a timely theme because of the “green evolution” trend of which engineers play vital role in embracing the utmost care for environment.

The Josenian Engineers Alumni Inc, through the batch 1987, is expecting over 500 participants on this forum that is set to be held on February 12, 2012.

Jojo Flores, chairperson for next year’s homecoming celebration said that it is important for the next generation engineers to be equipped with the new technology and demand, specifically the trend for “green technology” across engineering fields.

The Josenian Engineers Alumni Inc., also has set up a three-month long activities which started on December 1 this year, such as tree planting, and other corporate social responsibility events, and the Forum will serve as its culminating activity. (FREEMAN)