Monday, May 12, 2008 Local IT school to send 50 students overseas under exchange program
A COMPUTER school is planning to send overseas more than 50 junior and senior students from different courses for three months this year, through an exchange program that offers technical and professional growth.
Interface Computer College (ICC)-Cebu is optimistic that with the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), their students will gain insights into the culture and the development of business and technology in other countries.
IAESTE, since it was founded in 1948 in London, now involves more than 80 countries and facilitates the exchange of about 6,000 students annually.
“The exchange program is a reciprocating process wherein students learn from the best practices of their host countries and contribute what they know in their field so that when they come back, they will be able to contribute more to the country,” said Julius Romarate, ICC-Cebu director for academic affairs.
He said ICC wants one of the key players in promoting and developing well-equipped human resources for the country.
Incoming senior computer science student Archie Cimafranca applied for the program in April. He will be leaving for the Mongolian University of Science and Technology in Mongolia in September and will stay there until November. In Mongolia, he is expected to perform tasks involving Java technology, applied mathematics and other software projects.
Cimafranca will stay in the Mongolian University dorm and will receive allowance during his internship.
“I wanted the experience and the chance to learn so that when I come back, I will be more credible and applying for jobs will be smoother for me,” he said.
In exchange, a female student from Mongolia will arrive in June to observe the information technology (IT) curriculum of ICC-Cebu, give feedback and inputs, and help train IT students by assisting teachers in class.
ICC-Cebu will shoulder her allowance and help her look for lodging.
Romarate said ICC is waiting for more applications from students who are willing to learn in other countries, such as Switzerland and Indonesia. (NRC)
