School signs up for Globe Labs

ONE of the country’s largest telecommunications service providers launched an industry-academe linkage program that is meant to enhance information and communication technology (ICT) education in Cebu.

Globe Telecom Philippines launched yesterday the Globe Labs in the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR), the program’s first recipient.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Jeffrey Tarayao, head of Corporate Social Responsibility of Globe Telecom, said Globe Labs will involve students and teachers in developing mobile applications.

“This is our commitment to promote ICT education among students to help them become globally competitive and be equipped with the right skills and attitude in developing technology,” Tarayao said in a press conference at the USJ-R-Basak Campus.

The program, he said, will also give information technology (IT) students the opportunity to use Globe facilities and experience first-hand the technology that will enable them to create prototypes—making their ideas leap into real life.

Commercial prospects

Tarayao said this is the second time they are working with USJ-R as partners, since the Globe Technical Advancement Program or G-TAP was initiated five years ago.

“USJ-R was among the schools in Cebu that opened its doors to this linkage,” Tarayao said.

Romy de Villa, head of the I-Center of Globe Labs, said Globe will provide training and information in developing applications for mobile phones that support software such
as Java, Symbian and Android, among others.

He added that IT students will have access to software, Globe Application Programming Interface (API), particularly SMS and MMS, and its network. The students will also get the chance to see the applications they develop actually run on the mobile network.

Students will also have the opportunity to publish, market and sell the mobile applications they developed as part of Globe’s service offerings. Student developers have the potential to earn money from their mobile applications once these are commercially launched.

The program provided by Globe, said Dr. Gregg Gabison, dean of the College of Information, Computer and Communication Technology (CICCT) of USJ-R, will help the academe produce graduates armed with skill sets in mobile applications and development.

The program will involve selected faculty members who will undergo training by April or May this year. It will be offered to the incoming third and fourth year Computer Science and Information Technology students when the new school year opens in June.

Since the program’s inception in 2008, Globe Labs has conducted two competitions with 25 winners, implemented 20 workshops and trainings, and launched 15 applications.