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A partnership between state universities and Hitachi Global Storage technologies (Hitachi GST) is set to help boost the country's education and workforce specifically in the field of engineering through the company's Integrated University Program (IUP).
In a turnover and launching ceremony held at the Cebu Technological University (formerly Cebu State College of Science and Technology) on Saturday, Hitachi GST officials together with Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Commissioner Nona Ricafort, awarded seven laboratories to public institutions nationwide.
Hitachi GST Philippines is one of the country's leading manufacturers and exporters of magnetic heads (sliders) for hard disk drives, a computer storage component.
The company launched the program to provide scholarships, research grants and sponsorships, laboratory donations and on-the-job training to both students and faculty members.
The program started in 2008 and was primarily focused in Manila until the Ched and Hitachi GST agreed to build ?regional laboratory centers.?
Ricafort said ?the labs in public institutions which are strategically located nationwide would enable other schools within the region to also use of the laboratory facilities. We (Ched and Hitachi GST) are increasing the coverage of the program to help more students and faculty around the country.?
Among the recipient schools were Bulacan State University, Palawan State University, Eulogio ?Amang? Rodriguez Institute of Science and Techonology, Cebu Technological University, Eastern Visayas State University, Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology and Central Mindanao University.
Dr. Tuan Tran, vice president, worldwide head operations of Hitachi GST said the regional labs will be ?education for all.?
In a press release by Hitachi, Dr. Tran said that ?Hitachi is impressed by the highly skilled workforce in the Philippines. Through the IUP, we are helping develop the tremendous potentials of these future scientists and engineers.?
Although Hitachi GST is looking at expanding the IUP, they said they would just focus on the seven regional labs at the moment to ensure sustainability and success.
Cebu Technological University (CTU) is the first fully operational robotics lab among the seven recipient universities and the first of its kind in Central Visayas.
The CTU-Hitachi Robotics Metrology Laboratory was officially opened yesterday right after the turn over and launching ceremony.
Dr. Bonifacio Villanueva, CTU president, said the laboratory will be shared among the students and faculties from Cebu and other provinces under the Central Visayas region.
He said it is an added value to the university especially to their mechanics and engineering department.
The facilities installed in the CTU's lab is worth around $1 million. Although not all computer operated machines are brand new, but these are operational and in good condition.
Since the lab is open to all students of Central Visayas, Dr. Villanueva said that maintenance of the machineries will come not only from the university's funds but also from laboratory fees from students.
Dr. Tran said they were not expecting to get money out of the partnership, but mainly to share knowledge with the students and the faculty.
He said the facilities will bring new ideas and their company is open to employ students or work with students and faculty with their research.
Commissioner Ricafort likewise said the project is not only an answer to the problem of ?brain drain? in the country but also supporting the government?s agenda on providing education, creating jobs and poverty alleviation.
Present in the event were the presidents of the seven university recipients, Hitachi GST officials, Ricafort and other school and government officials. /correspondent ardie b. ermac
