PLDT, Microsoft team up for online learning

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) through business unit PLDT SME Nation has partnered with Microsoft Philippines to provide the new service package Digital Campus Suite to allow students and the academe to access online learning programs and earn IT certification to meet the current demand of digital driven industries.

Through the new service package, schools will have high-speed connectivity with PLDT myDSL Biz or iGate, as well as online access to training courses of the Microsoft IT Academy Program.

By having access to Microsoft’s digital curriculum, educators and students can get IT certifications for technology skills and other courses necessary to cater to the demand of industries and be employed.

Under the service package, schools will also get licenses to Microsoft Office 365 to enhance the learning and interaction of students and teachers through the use of cloud tools and platforms.

To provide the complete digital education experience of students, the suite comes with laptops, tablets, and WiFi access points in the campus.

“We at PLDT are confident that this partnership can significantly contribute to enriching the digital content of Philippine education. By enabling schools through these programs, we are helping them, both educator and student, to gain new critical skills and learn IT courses with globally competitive technology programs that have become essential in today’s digital work place,” PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a statement.

The increased spending for IT cloud services by industries has opened up new employment opportunities and created demand for new skills in the work place.

According to a study of research firm International Data Corp. (IDC), the higher spending for IT cloud services will create an estimated 14 million new jobs worldwide.

While there are new job opportunities, IDC noted there is a “widening ICT (information and communications technology) professional skills gap” and a “shortage of skills” in the Asia Pacific region.

As PLDT SME Nation is cognizant of the changing demand of industries and the need to improve ICT learning, it is partnering with schools and learning institutions to build their technology and connectivity resources Pangilinan said.

“This initiative fully aligns with PLDT SME Nation’s efforts to empower the future generation with an ICT-enabled education system.

ICT skills are no longer just added value to employment but are now necessities in today’s business and entrepreneurial landscape.  This initiative will allow these students to become adept in basic ICT skills and IT programs to prepare them for their chosen careers,” first vice president and head of PLDT SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde said.

For her part, Microsoft Philippines general manager Karrie Ilagan said the partnership is not only expected to help improve IT education but also contribute to building a stronger economy.

“An educated population is what we need to build a progressive Philippine economy, but we can’t educate tomorrow’s leaders with tools from the past,” Ilagan said.

“The increasingly competitive workplace is being driven by technology and digital literacy, and the Digital Campus Suite gives educators and students access to tools that will build their capability to excel in that environment. We always strive to effect a positive change in the lives of our customers, and our partnership with PLDT SME Nation helps us create a bigger impact on all aspects of education,” she said.