Updated: 7:41 p.m., August 25, 2019 for new information and additional images.
By EDD K. USMAN, SDN, Twitter @edd1819, Instagram @bluestar019, Facebook: SDN –Science, Digital & Current News
BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY, Batangas — Huawei Technologies Philippines, Inc. has expanded its ICT Academy here.
Through to its mission of “bringing digital to every person, home, and organization through a connected a world,” the Chinese telecoms giant signed its seventh partnership with the Batangas State University (BatStateU) today, August 24, here.
The world’s largest telecoms equipment manufacturer/vendor, it had earlier accepted into its ICT Academy program the likes of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), its first partner; Mapua Institute of Technology; De La Salle University (DLSU), Taft Campus; Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT); and Bulacan State University (BulSU); Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Main Campus, Sta. Mesa, Manila; and now BatStateU.
Li “Alan” Guodong, director for Service, Enterprise, Marketing and Services Department at Huawei Philippines, and BatStateU President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo signed their Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) shortly after 3 p.m.
The Huawei official thanked the university for the partnership.
“Huawei has a comprehensive, worldwide recognized professional certification system. We hope with the introduction of ICT Academy platform, we can enhance the awareness, ICT knowledge and skills for our future talents.”
Li was apparently meant with “our future talents” Huawei’s readiness to employ graduates/holders of its ICT Academy, which it has already been doing.
He acknowledged the partnership also benefits the telecoms company, the global No. 2 smartphone seller.
“Besides, it help to extend branding awareness to the public by starting from higher education level. Also, it prepares future talents to equip themselves to ICT industry and support sustainable growth of the country,” said Li.
Huawei Philippines Public Affairs Manager Karenina “Karrie” Escueta-Buenafe discusses before BatStateU management, faculty, and students the Huawei ICT Academy, its benefits through the promotion of new technologies. (Photo: SDN — Science and Digital News)
As the two parties formalized their partnership, BatStateU launched at the same time launched its latest and first program offering in Doctorate of Philosophy in Electronics Engineering.
Ronquillo welcomed the addition of Huawei to its host of partners.
“Universities like us always welcome assistance from industry and we appreciate Huawei’s responsibility.”
The BatStateU president said the Chinese company will be providing the university ICT network equipment as well as training for its faculty on ICT engineering, who will then train the students.
Ronquillo said the Huawei ICT Academy will be hosted at BatStateU’s main campus in Alangilan, also in the city.
He said the university has 11 campuses all in Batangas City, has more than 2,000 faculty members, and over 35,000 students. BatStateU specializes in Engineering, Science, and Technology courses, but also offers courses on Business, Nursing, Arts and Sciences.
This is not the first time that BatStateU partnered with a Chinese entity. On May 27, 2019, it signed a MOA with Shanghai University of Electric Power for Overseas Internship Program.
Escueta-Buenafe said the courses offered with the ICT Academy are generic, “what is important is the skills.”
She also highlighted the importance of the Huawei Certification Voucher, granted to graduates and passers of the courses.
The Filipina Huawei executive let on a teaser to the BatStateU students, saying they have a chance to go on an all-expense paid trip to Beijing, China, for the global ICT Academy competition.
She said where there is an ICT Academy, national and regional competitions are being held to choose representatives of a country to the Beijing event.
Escueta-Buenafe said Huawei’s vision is “to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world.”
Huawei, founded by CEO Ren Zhengfei, is a Chinese multinational technology company providing telecoms equipment and seller of consumer electronics, such as smartphones, etc.
A state university, BatStateU was established in 1903 as a training school, making it Batangas province’s oldest higher education institution (HEI). (SDN)