Cebu: IT-Certified Destination
Cebu, Philippines – a prime destination for business, leisure, travel, commerce, and . . . IT?
The queen city of the south of the Philippines has long been known as a great location for businesses, creating opportunities for job seekers, professionals, and business owners. Cebu City has also been the home of thriving businesses and major players of different industries.
One of the industries that have established roots in the province of Cebu is the IT-BPO industry. Since the early part of 2000, the BPO industry has encountered many obstacles and changes, yet it has overcome them and has been one of the main drivers of the economy of Cebu. As of 2011, it has become one of the most preferable IT-BPO (information technology and business process outsourcing) destinations in the world.
The provincial government gives its full support for the development of the industry, since the latter has greatly contributed to the rising employment rate in Cebu. In turn, the IT-BPO industry has also been a major factor in the province's economic growth.
In order to sustain the growth of the industry, some private organizations and government sectors have established ties with Metro Cebu's educational institutions. These partnerships are creating programs that will mold or prepare the graduates to become suitable for the industry. Colleges and universities are now making adjustments in their curricula to incorporate specialized trainings that will enhance the skills of the students in meeting the requirements of the IT-BPO workforce.
Organizations like Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (CEDF-IT) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have pledged to strengthen the academe-industry linkage to improve recruitment and answer the escalating demand for IT, BPO, and KPO (knowledge process outsourcing) jobs in Cebu.
Their main drive is to help high school and college graduates develop the skills and talents needed by the outsourcing industry.
“The demand is growing. We still need to prepare our graduates especially that companies here are diversified and each has specific requirements. Although CEDF-IT has already helped bridged the gap of the academe and the industry, we cannot simply rest on our laurels. These companies are banking on Cebu’s huge and rich talent pool. We need to constantly upgrade and equip our graduates with the right skills and knowledge so they could adjust or keep up with the demands of these companies,” said Jun Sa-a, executive director of CEDF-IT.To help IT-BPO companies recruit more people, the CEDF-IT promotes the Philippine Information Technology General Certification Examination (Phil-IT GCE). It is a two-hour online exam for graduates of IT- or computer-related courses, assessing their knowledge, skills, and attitude pertinent to the IT industry. IT-BPO companies may use the results of the Phil-IT GCE in selecting their applicants.
CEDF-IT was established after the first Cebu IT Summit in March 2001. Since then, it has forged partnerships with various industries and universities in Cebu and has now allied with TESDA for grants on various training programs on technical and non-technical skills trainings.
Cebu City has indeed stepped a notch higher with its competitive drive in being a major player in the IT-BPO industry. The city has taken the necessary measures to have an IT-BPO workforce comprised of certified IT professionals, making a difference from other major cities in the country, but still shares the aim of contributing to the whole BPO Industry of the Philippines.
About the Author
Publish on 06/21/2012
is a freelance copywriter, with majority of her work focusing on the outsourcing industry.
Older Post:
- Let’s Work Overseas in Cebu
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