The University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, one of SMART’s partner schools in the program’s initial run, has decided to continue the relationship via SWEEP Phase 2.

"We renewed our partnership in the second phase because we find value in the immersion of our faculty in the programs and in the actual operations of SMART, which gives them first-hand knowledge of industry practices," says university president Brother Raymundo Suplido.

SWEEP is SMART’s program for selected colleges and universities, which is designed to raise the level of technology and engineering education in the country.

"The program’s second phase is essentially Broadbanding SWEEP," says Mar Tamayo, head of SMART’s Network Services Division. "In line with SMART’s ‘Internet for All’ advocacy, we want to share with our partner schools the limitless possibilities and applications presented by wireless broadband by providing them with the technology supplemented with industry-related on-the-job trainings and seminars."

"The trainings in SWEEP Phase 2 are relevant to the telco industry and very useful to the schools," adds Tamayo. "We will also be providing scholarships and more seminars for the faculty of our partner schools."

The telecommunications giant has forged ties with industry leaders for a series of teacher trainings on topics including Internet Protocol, Mobile Technology, IPTV, DVBH and other emerging wireless technologies.

In addition, SMART will be replacing analog equipment in SWEEP laboratories located inside campuses with wireless broadband antenna and connection to support the program’s new focus.

The University of St. La Salle-Bacolod will be joined by 25 other schools that are up for renewal, plus 15 new partners under SWEEP Phase 2.

In its first five years as a SWEEP partner school, the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod has gained a lot from the partnership. "Through SWEEP, our students have access to the real world of telecommunications. It is very important that they get to see the application of the theories they read from books and learn in the classroom," says College of Engineering Dean, Dr. Florita Napallatan.

Through the SWEEP faculty immersion program, professors from partner schools are given the opportunity to work as on-the-job trainees under SMART’s local engineering groups for two weeks. Professors gain first-hand experience and a more realistic understanding of the telecoms industry which they can pass on to their students and co-faculty.

"The goal is to help schools produce industry-ready Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates," shares Tamayo. "We will give students the same relevant trainings that we conduct for broadband installers. These skills will surely add to their employability."

SWEEP has also expanded its partnerships to include entities such as Gawad Kalinga, Philippine National Red Cross, Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) for disaster preparedness, and others for environmental conservation. This initiative, according to Tamayo, ensures that the program will have practical applications and promote social responsibility among the students.

"Right now, we are working on a partnership between the schools and Phivolcs that will ultimately create a network of monitoring stations across the nation. This undertaking will give the schools a firsthand experience on how technology can save lives," bares Tamayo.

SWEEP is a first-of-its kind industry-academe partnership. Since its launch in May 2003, over 150 teacher trainings and technological seminars have been conducted. It has also created a program website www.smartsweep.ph. For four straight years, it has staged the annual SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards and the PalaECEpan quiz challenge participated in by students from partner schools.