Cebu’s academe-IT partnership serves as model for other cities

CEBU CITY - With its successes in bridging the academe and the information technology (IT) sector in the province, the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for IT (CEDF-IT) has been asked to replicate its organizational principles in other regions in the country. During the CEDF-IT 7th Annual General Membership meeting held at The Parklane Hotel, executive director Bonifacio Belen said the group has already started to conduct seminars for information and communications technology (ICT) councils in Iloilo, Bacolod and Laguna. He said that during the seminars, CEDF-IT shared its model and best practices to be followed by new organizations in the other areas. “We really emphasized that CEDF-IT is led by the champions of the industry. It is an entrepreneurial venture and it follows the principle of solidarity and subsidiarity," he said. In the meeting, CEDF-IT reported how it helped bridge the academe and the industry by acting as human resource extension office that determines competent graduates to fill particular job positions through examinations. The foundation also conducts training activities and bridge courses to help increase employment in the IT sector. Newly-elected member of the CEDF-IT board of trustees, Cherry Lyn Sta. Romana of the Cebu Institute of Technology said employment in the IT industry in Cebu is higher compared to other areas because of CEDF-IT. “We joined a seminar for IT schools in Manila, and we learned that the employment growth in the IT industry in Cebu is 37 percent while in Manila it is only three percent. This is because of CEDF-IT, which bridges the gap between the academe and the industry," Sta. Romana said. CEDF-IT aims to sustain the organization by reaching out to other provinces. “The new ICT councils will serve as the governing body of the industry in each area. All the programs of CEDF-IT will be used by them, thus contributing to sustainability of the organization," Belen said. - Sun.Star Cebu