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| PLDT and Smart Communications, represented by Senior Vice President (SVP) and Head of Technology Mario G. Tamayo and First Vice President (FVP) and Deputy Network Head Roderick S. Santiago, officially signed Memorandum of Agreement with Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) represented by its President Dr. Manuel Muhi, and College of Engineering Dean Dr. Remedios G. Ado for 4th phase of Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications) |
PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) officially signed another phase of partnership with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), the first and longest-running industry-academe linkage in the Philippines established in 2003.
“PLDT and Smart remain fully committed to supporting PUP’s efforts in leveraging technology for development through innovative programs. Part of this nearing two-decade partnership also includes our mission to help both students and educators become industry-ready by providing them tools to do so,” said PLDT and Smart Communications Senior Vice President and Head of Technology Mario G. Tamayo. “PLDT and Smart aim to reach communities, including groups and sectors outside the academe, through this initiative. SWEEP also offers extension programs that help cultivate a stronger sense of malasakit among its partner schools like PUP,” said PLDT and Smart Stakeholder Management Team Head Stephanie V. Orlino. SWEEP, through the PLDT and Smart Technology Innovation Center (TechnoLab), aims to contribute to the academic and professional journey of its partner institutions in the form of equipment, technical training, innovation platforms, immersive experiences, and extension services among its network of 27 colleges and universities all over the country.
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| PLDT and Smart group with PUP delegation during the SWEEP IV MOA signing (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications) |
“PUP is lucky to be partners with PLDT and Smart through SWEEP. This provides us an opportunity to recalibrate our programs and curriculum to help produce industry-ready alumni. With PLDT and Smart’s help and efforts, we can reinforce development among our students and educators, and help them catch up with the fast-paced nature of technology and innovation,” said PUP President Dr. Manuel M. Muhi. To date, 701 PUP students and faculty members have undergone training from PLDT and Smart with 24 educators having done immersion in various PLDT and Smart field offices. The partnership has also opened career opportunities for 684 PUP graduates in PLDT and Smart. These were all made possible by the 19-year strong partnership between the two organizations which will be extended for another five years under this renewed agreement.
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| PLDT and Smart Communications officials tour PUP representatives in the newly inaugurated Integrated Operations Center (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications) |
This next phase of SWEEP will focus on 5G network technology, Internet of Things (IoT), next generation access and transport, network virtualization, cybersecurity, and data visualization and analytics. PLDT and Smart highlight the value of industry-academe linkage to the career of tertiary students and industry experts. SWEEP is part of PLDT and Smart’s initiatives that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) #4: Quality Education.
