Special Report
Huawei cited for its partnership with 21 universities nationwide
MANILA – After it launched its first Huawei ICT Academy in the state-run University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) in Davao City in 2018, 20 more public and private higher educational institutes have partnered with the Shenzhen-based Chinese information communication technology giant.
Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana said ICT-related jobs contributed to the country’s economic growth. Speaking during recent launch of Huawei’s Learn ON Program, he said the Philippines has levelled up last year with a marked improvement of 19 notches by placing 54th out of 129 countries in the 2019 Global Innovation Index.
“This was due to the collective efforts of the Departments of Trade and Industry and Science and Technology and National Economic and Development Authority which advanced innovation among our people into the Micro-Small-Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating an innovative environment,” he said in a video message from the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.
He credited Huawei for its program that blends online and offline education as it provides “mixed opportunities” with online educational materials to complement the traditional methods.
“Students with no access to internet services can save learning materials in their devices on in external hard drives and study at home,” he added.
The former journalist turned Foreign Service official added Huawei’s Learn ON Program is an example of blended learning where students are allowed to study at home.
“Students, teachers and Overseas Filipino Workers to returned are afforded to check the Learn ON site and know of the course offerings. Our world is facing COVID-19 pandemic but education and learning must continue as we improve our skills towards progress and development,” said Ambassador Sta. Romana. He added solutions may just be around the corner.
Meanwhile, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III lauded Huawei for its program which he described as “aligned and responsive to the complex world.”
Speaking at the same event, Dr. De Vera said with the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Academe and Industry linkages such as the program being launched by Huawei, more students stand to benefit.
He underscored the need for education and learning to continue despite the headwinds brought by the pandemic.
“Huawei has pooled resources from Artificial Intelligence, 5G, Big Data and Internet of Things will clearly help to achieve greater digital inclusivity,” he said.
He recalled his stand has been very clear during the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) meetings that learning must continue so no student shall be left behind.
“As an academician and CHED Chairperson, I have monitored how changes took place, how teachers manage their classes,” he said. The Huawei event is an important venue to understand and develop cooperation and partnership for technological development along with public-private collaboration in research and development, in webinars.
Chairperson De Vera said Huawei’s event will definitely have meaningful results, including inclusivity and sustainable development.
University of the Philippines-Diliman Chancellor Dr. Fidel Nemenzo lauded Huawei’s ICT Academy’s Learn ON program on virtual platform Friday, August 28.
“When I talk of the new world, I am referring not only to the face-masked, physically distanced world, or the post-pandemic world,” Dr. Nemenzo said. He explained the new world has the 4th Industrial Revolution, the world as a result of profound changes and disruptions in recent decades.
Prior to COVID-19, new technologies have changed lives, “the wat we do things, the ways we teach and learn.”
“It is in this context that I welcome Huawei’s programs. Huawei has not only been in the cutting edge of new technologies but through programs like the ICT Academy it is promoting and enhancing digital learning in our country,” he said.
He recalled the time when he was Vice Chancellor when he met Huawei in 2018 when Huawei representatives visited his office to introduce the ICT Academy. The discussions ended with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UP Diliman and Huawei last February 2020.
Dr. Nemenzo said they, at UP-Diliman, appreciate Huawei’s initiative to reach out to higher education institutions to “foster synergy, cooperation and help establish the Local Talent Development Program and Ecosystem.”
He expressed optimism through the academe-industry partnerships, they can be more dynamic digital communities that would empower digital citizens to further help develop the Philippines.
“The launch of Huawei’s Learn ON program comes at the right time, when the pandemic has compelled schools and universities to shift to online and other remote modes of learning,” he explained. He added the online programs will provide students the opportunity to learn industry-based curricula and help bridge the digital divide between what is taught in school and what the industry needs.
Huawei Philippines vice president Daniel Guo said he hopes Filipino students can be globally ICT experts in the near future.
Huawei, he said hopes to bring digital technology to every person, home and organization for fully intelligent work.
“For the past 20 years, Huawei has been cooperating with universities to deliver ICT technology and encourage students to acquire certificates so that nobody is left behind,” he explained.
Mr. Guo said Huawei commits to carry out and improve online education.
To date, with 21 partner universities across the country, 2,300 students have registered in the platform with 360 students in receipt of a certification as Huawei Certified ICT Associates.
Huawei Philippines hopes to have more than 30 ICT Academies and provide more TTT (Train The Trainer) Support and accommodate more than 1300 certifications in the country.
During the past two years, Filipino students participated in “ICT competition regional Final” held in Malaysia. This year, Huawei plants an online ICT competition in preparation for the 2021 Global Finals as Huawei conducts regular comeeptitions as benchmark.
Huawei Philippines see Filipino students’ eagerness to learn new technology and have remained at par with ASEAN counterparts in terms of ICT knowledge and possess better English speaking skills.
The courses available on Learn ON Program include Routing and Switching, WLAN, Security, IoT, Cloud Service, Storage, Cloud Computing, Big Data and AI. Other details are available at https://e.huawei.com/en/talent/#/news/details?consultationld=707 (Melo M. Acuña)
Screen Grab photos from Huawei ICT Summit with Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana, CHED Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III and Huawei Philippines Vice President Daniel Guo.
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