UP, Smart ink partnership to offer online courses

DO YOU want to sign up for courses at the University of the Philippines (UP) on how to start your own technology company? Interested in learning the rudiments in developing mobile phone applications or mobile apps?

Online courses on these subjects will soon be available as the UP Open University (UPOU) and leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) join forces to make this happen.

A memorandum of agreement was signed last February 20 between UPOU and Smart to formalize the collaboration aimed at developing and offering an online course on Android Apps Development.

The signing coincided with the UPOU's 18th Founding Anniversary celebration with the theme “Connecting Minds, Lives, Communities” and was held at the university headquarters in Los Banos, Laguna.

Both UPOU and Smart see this course to interest individuals who want apps developers for smart phones and android tablets.

"The intersection between education and technology is a very powerful and fulfilling place to be. Together with UP, we are creating a national hub for apps development learning," Smart chief wireless advisor Orlando B. Vea said.

"In partnership with UP and UPOU, we are harnessing the latest in mobile communications technologies to strengthen the state university’s contribution as the country's national university," Vea said.

The course will be offered by UPOU as a massive open distance e-Learning (MODeL) course, which follows the framework of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). This is part of UPOU's "opening [its] educational resource as a means to bring about social transformation. It is not just about tearing down barriers but making quality education more accessible to the public beyond the formal classroom," as expressed by UPOU Chancellor Dr. Grace Javier Alfonzo.

Aside from Android Apps Development, the MOA also covers development and offering of the Technopreneurship course for aspiring technologists who want to start up a company and be their own boss.

"The partnership with UPOU is a major step in helping accelerate the app developer and technopreneur ecosystem in the country. Because of the reach of the UPOU system, we hope to give more learning opportunities to thousands of aspiring technologists from all over the Philippines and the world," said Earl Valencia, president of IdeaSpace Foundation and concurrent head for corporate innovations and strategic development at Smart.