SAP eyes partnership with Cebu academe

CEBU, Philippines - SAP announced to partner with major universities and colleges in Cebu to mold more SAP-certified professionals in the region.

In an interview with Darren Rushworth, SAP managing director for Philippines and emerging markets, he said that the company is now working with several universities in Cebu to offer the SAP modules as added skills training specially for IT students.

Rushworth however refused to divulge the universities the company is looking at for partnership, saying negotiations is still ongoing.

In Manila, SAP has partnered with University of Sto. Tomas (UST), Mapua, and the entire UP system.

According to Rushworth, the Philippines needs more SAP certified IT professionals, as multinational companies which are mostly using SAP are coming in to the country for expansion, as well as growing number of local companies are now using SAP technology solutions.

He said that most probably by the second semester of this school year, some Cebu-based universities and colleges could already offer SAP modules for students.

Aside from offering the opportunity for IT students, and IT professionals to be certified with SAP, Rushworth said that company is also intensifying its penetration in the Southern Philippine market, particularly Cebu.

Recently, the company held its SME Summit at the Quest Hotel, an annual event which aims at providing opportunities for SMEs (Small and Medium Enteprises) owners and managers from the Philippines to meet and interact with each other and SAP partners.

During the event, SAP was working with partners like ABM Global Solutions, Cisco Philippines, Dell Philippines, Kaisa Consulting, Mustard Seed Systems Corporation, Orix Metro Leasing and Finance Corporation, Panduit Lamco, and Questronix.

“In the Philippines, 80 percent of SAP’s installed base belongs to the SME sector. This simply means that we offer robust enterprise management, business intellegence, and performance management functionality to power SMEs’ businesses to ensure better decision making,” Rushworth said in a press conference.

During the Summit, SME decision makers were given opportunities to interact with representatives from SAP-certified hardware, consulting, implementation, service and support providers.

The annual SAP SME Summit is dubbed as the venue to discover how SAP can bring businesses especially the small and medium sizes to the next level of success through the brand’s game-changing innovations.  (FREEMAN)