CEBU CITY – Just a few weeks after being converted into a full-blown university, the Cebu State College of Science and Technology received Saturday $1.8 million worth of laboratory equipment for robotics and meteorology from a US-based computer firm.

Executives of San Jose, California-based Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST), a well-known producer of hard disk drives, turned over $1.8 million worth of metrology and robotics laboratory facilities to the institution, now known as the Cebu Technological University (CTU) , the first recipient of such hi-tech laboratory in Central Visayas.

The donation is part of Hitachi GST’s Integrated University Program launched last year, which aims to help develop hard disk drive industry talent in the country by providing scholarships, research grants, lab equipment and on-the-job training to both students and faculty members.

“Hitachi is impressed by the highly skilled workforce in the Philippines,” said Dr. Tuan Tran, Vice-President of Hitachi GST’s Worldwide Head Operations. “Through the Integrated University Program, we like to think that we are helping to develop the tremendous potential of future scientists and engineers.”

Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Nona Ricafort said Hitachi’s program is in response to Government’s three point agenda, that is, education for all, creation of jobs, and poverty alleviation.

Ricafort, along with top officials of Hitachi witnessed Sunday the turnover of the metrology and robotics laboratory facilities to CTU, Hitachi’s latest beneficiary and first recipient in Central Visayas.

“We have recommended the setup of seven labs in public institutions strategically located nationwide to enable other schools within the region to share in the use of the laboratory facilities. This way, we are increasing coverage of the program to help more students and faculty around the country,” Ricafort said.

Presidents of six other “most-populated universities in the country” were also present Sunday to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Hitachi.
These institutions, the state universities of Eastern Visayas, Palawan, and Bulacan , along with the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, Central Mindanao University, and
Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology are also recipients of the same state-of-the-art robotics and metrology equipment.

Metrology is defined by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures as “the science of measurement embracing both experimental and theoretical determinations at any level of uncertainty in any field of science and technology,” while robotics is the science or study of the technology associated with the design, fabrication, theory, and application of robots.