IBM and the University of Cebu (UC) will offer students an “Earn as You Learn” (EAYL) undergraduate program in joint efforts to create educational and employment opportunities for young IT professionals among the local Cebu population and its neighboring areas.

As second most significant metropolitan center in the country, Cebu has an important role to nurture experts and specialized IT resources as the Philippines move towards an innovation-led economy,

“Innovation is crucial in the economic advancement of Cebu and our country. Information Technology has been identified as a vital sector that can support innovation and can open up a lot of opportunities for progress. With the EAYL program, we not only support the local government of Cebu’s drive to be the premier IT hub in the Philippines, we also have the opportunity to enhance the employability of the university’s graduates,” said Candice Gotianuy, Chancellor, University of Cebu.

The “Earn as You Learn” program offers placement at IBM, providing undergraduates with valuable and practical experience working in the IT industry as part of their studies. The program, to be incorporated into Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree, is intended to be completed over four years or eight semesters. It is patterned after the successful collaboration between IBM and the University of Ballarat in Australia.

IBM will recommend select subjects to be included in the course and provide subject matter experts to cover these recommended topics. Both parties are still working on the specifics of the course.

“Global demand for IT is growing and it remains to be a lifeline for economic growth across all industries and in all economies, especially here in the Philippines. It is critical for the private sector and academe to work together to address the issues that collectively impact the IT market. We want to play our part in ensuring a healthy and competent manpower resource pool is available,” said James Velasquez, Country General Manager, IBM Philippines.

University of Cebu is targeting to kick-off the EAYL course by June, in time for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Photo Shows (from left):

Standing - Alejandro Melchor III, Governmental Programs Executive, IBM Philippines; Lula Mohanty, Director for IBM Global Delivery Center Philippines; Atty. Nendell Hanz Abella, Vice Chancellor for Administration, University of Cebu

Seated - Atty. Baldomero Estenzo, Executive Vice Chancellor, University of Cebu; Candice Gotianuy, Chancellor, University of Cebu; James Velasquez, Country General Manager, IBM Philippines and Richard Patterson, General Manager, Globally Integrated Delivery, IBM Corporation.

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