iAcademy develops traiblazers

MANILA, Philippines – “The world is rapidly changing. Businesses today are not the same as they were years ago. Technology is also changing. No college or university in the Philippines understands this better than iAcademy. We are not heavily reliant on textbooks. Our programs are really a mix of technology, arts and business. We come up with our programs by looking at what the industry needs rather than what is already available,” iAcademy CEO Vanessa Tanco Cualoping explains.

Established in 2002, its founders, opened doors to 72 students in June 2002 in its premiere location along Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The first 72 students enrolled in BSBA e-Management, BSCS Software Engineering, BSCS Network Engineering, and BSIT Digital Arts. For the succeeding school years, the population increased. To better equip its students, a partnership was made with IBM Philippines in June 2003. Two years later, the Computer Science and Information Technology program was granted recognition, with zero deficiency, by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). New courses were offered like BSBA Marketing and Advertising (2004), and BS Animation (2007), which holds partnership with the Cutting Edge Productions. Soon, more courses were offered: AB in Multimedia Arts and Design (2011), and BS Game Development and Programming (2011), which includes developing computer games in both mobile and desktop platforms designed by select members of the International Game Developer Association.

“iAcademy is led by some of the most brilliant minds in business and education. Our Board of Governors include Washington Sycip, founder of SGV; and Eusebio Tanco, the president of Asian Terminals Inc. and chairman of Philplans, Philcare, and many other companies. We have partnerships with the top corporations. We work with these corporations and we make sure that we are always at the forefront of technology and business,” boasts Cualoping.

In 2009, WACOM, the world’s leading manufacturer of interactive pen displays, pen tablets, and digital interface solutions, became iAcademy’s training partner. With this partnership, iAcademy’s Animation and Multimedia programs have been tremendously enhanced. Our educational services are now at par with prestigious local and international colleges and universities. In 2010, IBM appointed iAcademy as the first IBM Center of Excellence in the ASEAN Region and the first Lotus Academic Institute. With just eight years of operation, iAcademy proved to be one of the best training grounds for future IBM professionals. In 2011, iAcademy opened its BS Fashion Design and Technology program and was chosen by Solar Entertainment Corp. to be the official partner school and workspace of Project Runway Philippines Season 3, the highly coveted fashion design reality TV show that has produced some of the country’s finest fashion designers.

“We monitor the progress of each student carefully. We value continuous improvement. Next term, one of the electives of our Software Engineering and Game Development students is an Apple game development course wherein they will be learning from professionals working in Silicone Valley. Each week students will learn from these professionals and work on projects using their iPads,” Cualoping further emphasizes.

iACADEMY cares for its students and provides different programs that will support their academic and non-academic experiences. Its Academic Advising, Coaching, and Enhancement (ACE) Program provides students a support system that helps students adjust to college life, learn, pass the rigors of academic requirements, and enjoy in the process.

As one of the pioneers of industry-partnered education, iACADEMY also built an internship program, where student interns work full-time with partner companies for at least 960 hours with professionals. This model has resulted in a 98% job placement success rate of iACADEMY graduates to date.