In simple ceremonies, Rodante Medina, head of Smart NSD-Network Service Assurance, together with executive vice president of DLSL, Juan Lozano unveiled the marker of the laboratory.

"We hope that our new-found parnership in SWEEP will further enrich the advanced program at La Salle," said Medina at the ceremony.

De La Salle joins 41 other partner schools of Smart nationwide under the Smart Wireless Engineering Program (SWEEP) since its launch in Bulacan State University in 2004. The program is designed to enhance studies in the field of Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE).

SWEEP consists of two parts. The first is the wireless lab which houses various pieces of equipment from Smart’s analog network such as radio cabinets, rectifier units, a battery bank, antennas and a computer control console. The facility also contains a working GSM cell site that will not only provide additional coverage for the campus but also for on-the-job training program for students.

The second is a continuing education program under which Smart will periodically deploy its engineers to provide lectures and make presentations on various topics such as introduction to GSM technology, General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Short Message Services (SMS), Multi-media Services (MMS), Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) and Third Generation (3G).

Dr. Merlita Medallon, Dean of the College of Informaiton Technology and Engineering (CITE) said that SWEEP will reinforce the theories taught by the faculty in the classroom. The teaching-learning process will be reinforced with the use of the laboratory. Students will be allowed to explore their major field with actual machines to work on.

She also said that this program gives La Salle an edge in offering engineering courses in the CALABARZON area.

"Smart’s initiative to share its resources and extend services to academic institutions is a noble undertaking," Medallon added.

DLSL belongs to the third generation of schools founded by the De La Salle Brothers in the Philippines in 1962. It celebrated its 44th Foundation Day recently with the blessing of several state-of-the-art equipment facilities and building. DLSL’s College of IT and Engineering offers programs in Electronics and Communications Engineering, electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Certificate in Information Technology.