By Aljon P. Tugaoen

Smart Communications Inc. has partnered with Mariano Marcos State University to provide connectivity solutions to both faculty and students in the university.

The partnership was forged on Tuesday, September 13, in a memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed by MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and Mr. Mario Tamayo, Technology Group head of Smart, at the Center for Flexible Learning.

Smart will set up a ‘Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program’ (SWEEP) Laboratory in the university which will house various telecommunications equipment. This aims to provide optimum connectivity coverage in the campus. They will also provide technical training and hands-on experience among faculty, staff and students with the equipment. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis expressed her gratitude for the 16-year partnership that has ‘expanded and metamorphosed to the challenges of time.’

“Through this expanded partnership, we will be able to leverage to the challenges of Industry 4.0 and be a par with international standards,” she added.

Academic affairs vice president Prima Fe Franco seconded, adding, “This will enable us to strengthen the skills of our students, faculty members and staff in the fields of computing and information sciences, computer engineering, business and extension services.”

Smart also committed to accommodate interns from MMSU, and offered to train school personnel on disaster preparedness, cyber security and internet safety. Additionally, the company pledged financial grants for promising school innovations.  

Together with PSCA and Dr. Franco were College of Arts and Sciences dean Marivic Alimbuyugen, College of Engineering dean Edmund Esteban, extension director Marilou Lucas and public-private partnerships director Lawrence John C. Tagata. (JVBT, StratCom)