AN EDUCATION program by Accenture Philippines and Passerelles Numeriques to sustain the manpower demand in the Information Technology industry in Manila and Cebu has produced its first batch of 24 graduates.
Twenty-two of the 24 graduates are already hired in their different partner companies including Accenture, a business process outsourcing firm, said Benoit Guinini, president of Passerelles Numeriques.
Passerelles Numeriques is an international organization that aims to give underprivileged youths access to education, employment and a bright future.
“Eleven of the 22 are with Accenture while the rest are with other companies like Timex Philippines,” said Guinini.
The partnership with Passerelles Numeriques will benefit not only the firm but also other IT companies in Cebu, which can get more qualified people for their operations, Nescel Asuncion, Accenture Philippines corporate citizenship.
“The IT industry in the Philippines especially in our two locations—Manila and Cebu—is fast growing and demand for skilled manpower is growing as well. This program will help fuel and sustain that growth,” said Asuncion.
At present, 300 students are enrolled under the Skills to Succeed Corporate Citizenship Program of Accenture and Passerelles Numeriques, which they launched two years ago.
Within two years, they aim to have 350 graduates every year from Cebu, Gyuinini said.
“We have about 90 freshmen students coming in June this year for the program. We will continue to increase the number to reach our goal of at least 350 graduates every year,” said Guinini.
Under the curriculum, the students attend classes at the University of San Carlos in Talamban, Cebu City and then are enrolled in an on-the-job-training program with partner companies.
According to Passerelles Numeriques Philippines director Thomas Corolleur, they help design the curriculum with USC management capitalizing mostly on the hands-on training for the students.
“We believe in skills that is why we designed the curriculum in such as way that they are mostly exposed to the field. They are given English and soft skills training and personality training as well aside from the technical training,” said Corolleur.
Two graduates this year are Mark Bernard Nuñez, who is from Bohol, and April Jane Delabrino from Cebu.
Nuñez was hired by Timex Philippines as a consultant Oracle developer while Delabrino is employed with Accenture Cebu./Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap