Mapua SWEEPs into wireless mode

MANILA, Philippines - The Mapua Institute of Technology (MAPUA) is enhancing its engineering programs by getting technology and service developments firsthand from industry partner Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP).

Dr. Felicito Caluyo, dean of the School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering and Computer Engineering, during the contract signing ceremony, noted how SWEEP complements the vision of Mapua, acknowledged as one of the best engineering schools in the country.

“SWEEP will definitely change how our students and faculty view wireless technology. The important thing is that we have additional state-of-the-art technology that will help impart learning through hands-on experience, making our students more competitive and global. It also complements our existing capability in research.”

“Through research, our students can see the different technologies.  Now, we will have another way of doing research on the utilization of the technology,” seconds Prof. Noel Linsangan, program chair for computer engineering.

Byron Tabada, Smart Network Services Assurance head for Metro Manila, says that under SWEEP, a wireless laboratory is provided that includes different systems such as cellular, wireless broadband, routers, and switch.

Mapua’s SWEEP lab includes wireless broadband equipment composed of an operational Smart GSM base station, 3 networked PCs, wireless router and switch, VPN routers, and web cameras. It will be a “hotspot” with an Internet bandwidth of 64 kbps (CIR)/ 588 kbps(MIR). A set-up of Sendfar and/or Canopy equipment will likewise be installed in the lab.

Tabada says that SWEEP also includes a continuing education program that will enable faculty and students to learn about the industry, the technology and the services through regular trainings, seminars, immersion programs and on-the-job training.

Mapua faculty can gain additional knowledge through trainings on topics such as Internetworking fundamentals, TCP/IP, VoIP, 3G Systra, wireless broadband overview, Smart Bro Modules 1 & 2, installation and configuration of wireless broadband equipment. A faculty immersion program gives qualified professors a chance to work as trainees under Smart’s local engineering groups for two weeks. This will help them gain first-hand experience and a more realistic understanding of the telecoms industry which they can pass on to their students and co-faculty. Moreover, school administrators and officials can attend leadership seminars sponsored by Smart.