In the first-ever SWEEP eBootcamp, Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) emphasized the need of supporting the Filipino youth in its pursuit to learn and develop technological solutions, including analytics, that can bring a significant impact to society.

Short for Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program, SWEEP is an industry-academe linkage program with a network of 36 colleges and universities all over the country that offer ECE and IT courses.

Held on April 24 in partnership with the Asian Institute of Management – Dado Banatao Incubator, the e-Bootcamp brought together over a hundred students and mentors from all of the Philippines.

“Data analytics as the modern oil of the industry can help us in adapting and finding solutions for our current situation. Empowering the students with the knowledge on how to utilize it is somehow a way of giving our future a chance to be better than it is now,” said Darwin F. Flores, VP for Community Partnerships at Smart.

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“The lockdown presented us with a lot of challenges, but this is also one of the main reasons why we must continue learning and innovating,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP for Community Partnerships at Smart.

Technopreneurs

For 17 years, Smart has partnered with SWEEP schools to help them produce industry-ready graduates or technopreneurs by leveraging on its network, infrastructure and technologies. To-date, SWEEP has trained more than 36,000 students and teachers, with over 1,000 graduates directly hired by Smart.

“This year’s SWEEP Bootcamp takes place under the most exceptional circumstances. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people to stay at home and practice social distancing, technology and innovations have truly become the most powerful means for people to stay in touch and work together,” said PLDT-Smart Chief Technology and Information Advisor Joachim Horn.

The eBootcamp showcased educational training lectures by startup entrepreneurs from various industries who also shared their journey and tips on how to respond to the current COVID-19 crisis using innovation and technology.