UM, UIC, UPMin are New Centers of Development in IT Education

The University of Mindanao (UM), University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC), and University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UPMin) join the elite circle of Centers of Development (COD) in IT Education for the years 2007-2010 aside from Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) who also retained its COD status for another three (3) years (refer to the previous post for more details). Dr. Guillermo Torres (President of UM), Mr. Jerry Flores (IT Education Program Head of UIC), Mr. Vic Calag (IT Education Program Head of UPMin), and Mr. Edwin V. Marañon (IT Education Program Head of ADDU) received their respective plaques of recognition during the awarding ceremonies last March 23, 2007 organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) held at Bayview Park Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. The second batch of awardees in the field of Information Technology Education (ITE) has nine (9) Centers of Excellence and thirty-one (31) Centers of Development (refer also to the previous post for the list of schools).

Having four (4) CODs in ITE in Region XI is right on track with the efforts of the Philippine Society of IT Educators-Region XI (PSITE-XI) and the Council of Deans for IT Education in Region XI (CDITE-XI) to make Davao as the IT Education capital of Mindanao. The four (4) universities now share in the responsibility of improving the quality of IT Education as well as assist the other twenty-two (22) IT schools in the region in attaining the same level of competence in the areas of instruction, research and extension.

This recognition conferred on the four (4) universities serves as the humble contribution of the IT academic community to the overall vision of the ICT Davao, the umbrella organization of all IT organizations in Davao, in making Davao as the IT capital and hub of Mindanao and the destination of choice for IT professionals, infrastructure, products and services. And surely, more contributions are still waiting to unfold...