Friday, October 10, 2008 Concentrix ties with universities, colleges By Joy Romares-Sevilla
TO STRENGTHEN its position in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry the Synnex-Concentrix (formerly Link2Support), one of the big contact centers in Davao City, forged a partnership with six colleges and universities in the city.
Junar Amador, senior director of Concentrix based in Cagayan de Oro City, said the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the Marco Polo Davao, spells out the commitment of the colleges and universities in the city for the Concentrix's Academe Linkage Program (ALP).
"Competition in the industry is very tight. We initiate this approach to strengthen our competitive advantage. We are the ones now who get close to the schools (to inform them) of what the industry requires," Amador said.
Amador said the issue on human resources mismatch is not that really the problem. What is needed, he said, is proper communication with those who provide human resources like colleges and universities to suit graduates with the career they want to pursue.
"Schools should have a big coordination with the industry," he said.
Amador said there is huge demand of human resources for contact centers in the country. He disclosed that around 400,000 people are needed every year on top of what the industry has already employed at present.
"We will help in enhancing the quality of the soon-to-be graduates," Amador said.
Amador said the same program was also initiated by the Concentrix in Manila. The company partnered with the St. Paul's College.
"We were able to expose students to the industry. We provide technical support and expose them to new technology," he said.
Amador said they also encouraged schools to inspire students to speak English for at least 90 percent of their time inside the school campus.
Amador said Concentrix already has 16 school partners today. It has offices in Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and in Davao.
Its partners in Davao City are the University of Mindanao, STI College, Philippine College of Technology, Holy Cross of Davao College, AMA Computer College, and the Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku.
Its partnership with the University of Immaculate Concepcion, San Pedro College, and University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) are also underway.
If the need arises, Amador said they are very much willing to expand partnership especially to the schools outside Davao City. JGRS
