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| (Image Source: De La Salle Lipa) |
De La Salle Lipa (DLSL)'s College of Information Technology and Engineering has garnered acclaim as a leading institution for innovative education as evidenced by the remarkable achievements of its alumni and the exceptional quality of its graduates. This acclaim is a direct result of the college's dynamic curriculum, distinguished faculty, and nurturing learning environment. Moreover, a robust network of partnerships with industry leaders further enhances these internal strengths. On March 15, 2024, a significant milestone was reached as DLSL forged a formidable alliance with DysrupIT, an esteemed IT Cloud and As-a-Services company, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The signing of the MOU between DLSL and DysrupIT took place at the Nexus Atrium and was graced by DLSL's top administrators led by Brother President Bro. Edmundo Fernandez, FSC and Chancellor Dr. Erickson Martinez. Leading the DysrupIT delegation were its distinguished Owner and Founder Elizabeth Hermosura and Chief Executive Officer Andrew McCarroll. This partnership will take decisive steps to foster cooperation in various domains including joint innovation of academic programs, shared teaching facilities, resource pooling, faculty and staff collaboration, and leveraging existing and prospective partnerships. Bro. Fernandez, in his insightful remarks, expressed, “It is the desire of De La Salle Lipa to partner with as many entities nd industries as possible as we make an effort to make students of De La Salle Lipa real-world ready. I hope this partnership will enrich our curriculum and allow us to find new pedagogies so we could provide your (IT) industry with highly skilled young men and women.…..I pray that this partnership will be beneficial and enriching for both the school and your company, all for the service of your industry and for the service of the region of CALABARZON.”
This partnership emerges as a providential outcome of the recent Australia – ASEAN summit held on March 4, 2024 in Melbourne. During the summit, His Excellency Philippine President Ferdinand "Bong Bong" Marcos Jr. identified education and skills development among the key investment priorities and signed a MOU with the Australian Prime Minister to collaborate on cyber and critical technology fields, aimed at bolstering resilience against cyber threats and fostering cooperation in the digital economy. With the invaluable guidance of La Salle Lipa consultant Dr. Merlin Suarez, the policy imperatives moved into actionable strategies, culminating in the MOU signing. The commitment of the institution was underscored by the presence of key stakeholders, including Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academics – College Dr. Tessie Palma, Dean of the College of Information Technology and Engineering (CITE) Engr. Cherrie Villafuerte, and Program Chairpersons. Witnessing the event were student officers from prominent organizations, underscoring the collective enthusiasm for this transformative partnership.
Hermosura articulated, “DysrupIT will focus on ensuring the Philippines and Australia have the Tools, People and capabilities for emerging technology and we are honoured to be partnering with De La Salle Lipa where we, alongside NDC and the support of the Australian Philippines Business Councils’ president Rafael Toda, stand together to enable the future of the Philippines.” Other members of DysrupIT who witnessed the event were Chief People Officer Sharame Garzon, Chief Operating Officer Rowena Amor, Chief Information Officer Julius Suarez, Senior Technical Delivery Manager Leon Gueverra, Financial Controller Jerome Francisco, Sales Operations Manager Ethel Mendiola. Likewise, De La Salle Alumnus and Australian Philippines Business Council (TBC) President Rafael Toda graced the event as well. Through these collaborative endeavors, CITE enriches the educational journey of its students by providing invaluable industry exposure, real-world engagement opportunities, and entrepreneurship avenues. These partnerships not only foster knowledge transfer and innovation but also enable students to develop impactful solutions that benefit society at large. DLSL places immense value on these partnerships, recognizing them as instrumental in nurturing graduates poised to make significant contributions in their respective fields.
(With words by Dfezie Tipan, De La Salle Lipa)
